‘I love bringing joy to people’: North Attleborough postal worker delivers Christmas cheer as ‘Buddy the Elf’

NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH, Mass. (WLNE) — For over a decade, a North Attleborough postal worker has delivered packages and Christmas cheer as Buddy the Elf.

Some North Attleborough residents know him as Scott the mailman, but others, know him as Buddy the Elf.

Since 2011, Scott Phillips has been delivering packages door to door as “Buddy.”

It all started when his son showed up on Christmas morning dressed in the green and yellow suit.

“All of a sudden, I see my son walking up with Christmas presents, and he’s in the window…I’m like, ‘This is so awesome!'”

Scott tried on the costume, and since then, has been suiting up as Buddy the Elf every Dec. 23 and Christmas Eve.

“The truth is, I get really excited and like a little kid for Christmas waiting for the presents,” Scott said.

Kids aged one to 92, and even pups get excited to see Santa’s tallest elf.

“When they see me and stuff, and just everybody lights up,” Scott said. “Their reaction is worth its weight in gold.”

“Sometimes I go up to some of the doors to say ‘hi’ to them. Sometimes on a ring, if they’re not home, and I do, ‘hey, Buddy says hi,’ so they can get it later if they miss me,” Scott said.

His wife said he doesn’t miss a year.

“One year it was sub-zero temperatures, and he had to load on so much clothing underneath,” Leah Phillips said, “but he still, you know, wanted to do this.”

Scott said dressing up as “Buddy” is more than just a costume.

“I love bringing joy to people and making them smile,” Scott said. “Like Buddy does that, as soon as they see him. People smile. You know what I mean? Except for the raccoon. The raccoon wasn’t happy in the movie.”

Scott said he will be delivering packages as Buddy on Tuesday and Wednesday.

“Remember, Santa’s coming Thursday morning. Merry Christmas,” Scott said.