An elderly woman with no family or close friends warmed hearts when she wrote a heartfelt note to thank the staff at a restaurant that gave her a free burger on Christmas Day.
The story happened at Black Sheep Burgers & Shakes in Springfield, Missouri. For a woman living alone and in poverty, this small act of kindness turned a lonely holiday into a memorable one.
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The elderly woman had no one to share Christmas with
In her note, she said, “A very heartfelt thank you for the kindness of you all! It would have been a very boring Christmas for me as I have no family left.”
She also shared, “I never thought of this years ago, but being the youngest in my family, I have seen everyone leave this Earth before me.”
Living in poverty made her life even harder
She explained that she’s been getting by on social security checks. “Forcing me to ‘downsize’ to renting a room and sharing a house. I feel like I’m in college again!” she wrote.
A friend gave her the gift of a Christmas meal
The woman mentioned that a friend told her about the free meal offer. “A dear friend heard about the offer of the free meal and invited me out for ‘Christmas lunch.’ Great idea since I was down to $1!”
The meal and the staff brought her unexpected joy
In her note, she wrote, “The meal was wonderful as were the staff. Thank you again for making it a day to remember! Blessings.”
The restaurant owner was moved to action
Black Sheep’s owner, Mike Jalili, said, “We gave complimentary burgers on Christmas Day, no reservations, no names, we just take care of needy … She happened to come in there that day, and a few days later we got this letter.”
The free Christmas meal is part of an annual tradition
Jalili explained this isn’t a one-time thing. “This is the second year the restaurant has given out free burgers to help out the community as much as possible.”
The search to find the woman began
Jalili shared her letter on Facebook, hoping to find her. He wrote, “We are looking for this lady that sent this letter to downtown Black Sheep. If you know who she is, please private message us.”
They want to include her in their family gatherings
In his message, Jalili explained why he wanted to find her. “I’m wanting to invite her to our house for holidays; this is the reason I’m trying to locate her,” he said.
The community rallied around the effort
He told the DailyMail.com how much this note has meant to everyone. “There is something about this letter that has touched all of us, including our community. Everyone in our community is wanting us to find her.”
Customers praised the restaurant’s kindness
One customer said, “This doesn’t surprise me that the owners are trying to include her as family and invite her to their gatherings! They invited my Dad many times when he said our family did not! And he went!” Another added, “Gah, this had me in tears. I really hope you find her.”
Stories like this remind us how even small acts of kindness can make a world of difference. Here’s hoping this sweet woman finds not just a meal but a whole community of love and support around her.
Last Updated on January 8, 2025 by Sarah Kester
