An unexpected act of kindness during the holiday season turned into something truly unforgettable for one elderly woman.

What started as a simple gesture from a local business sparked an emotional response that has captured the hearts of many.

What she wrote in return has since resonated deeply with those who have read it, shedding light on a hidden side of the holidays.

An elderly woman, living in poverty with no family, touched the hearts of restaurant staff at Black Sheep Burgers & Shakes in Springfield, Missouri, after she sent them a heartfelt thank-you note for a free Christmas meal.

Kind gesture sparks emotional note from lonely woman. Image source: Facebook/Black Sheep Burgers & Shakes

The woman, who remained unidentified, wrote to express her deep gratitude for the kindness shown to her when the restaurant owner offered a free burger to anyone in need on Christmas Day.

'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 wrote in perfect cursive.

'I never thought of this years ago, but being the youngest in my family, I have seen everyone leave this Earth before me.'

In her letter, she shared that she had been living off her social security payments, which had forced her to 'downsize' to renting a room and sharing a house.

'I feel like I'm in college again!' she wrote.

She continued, recounting how a dear friend had invited her for 'Christmas lunch' after hearing about the free meal offer, as she had only $1 left in her pocket.

'The meal was wonderful as were the staff. Thank you again for making it a day to remember! Blessings.'

Restaurant owner Mike Jalili was deeply moved by the letter and expressed his desire to invite the woman to a belated holiday celebration with his family.

Black Sheep Burgers & Shakes, with four locations throughout Missouri, had been ranked by TripAdvisor as having the best burgers in the state.

The restaurant’s Christmas Day offer had no reservations or names required; it was simply a gesture to help those in need.

Jalili recalled: '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.'

This was the second year the restaurant had provided free meals to support the local community during the holiday season.

However, despite sharing the letter on Black Sheep’s social media in hopes of tracking her down, the identity of the woman remained a mystery.

Jalili wrote on the restaurant’s social media: 'We are looking for this lady that sent this letter to downtown Blacksheep, if you know who she is please private message us.'

'I’m wanting to invite her to our house for holidays, this is the reason I’m trying to locate her.'

He expressed his optimism that the community would help him find her, noting that the letter had resonated deeply with everyone, including the restaurant’s staff.

'There is something about this letter that has touched all of us including our community, everyone in our community are wanting us to find her,' he said.

Jalili also extended an open invitation to the woman: 'She gets to eat on us anytime just like my family doesn’t pay to eat at our restaurants.'

Black Sheep’s act of kindness had stirred a wave of support from the community, with many customers moved by the gesture.

One woman commented: '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 shared: 'My heart breaks for this poor lady but so thankful you guys were a safe place for her on a holiday.'

One emotional response read: 'Gah, this had me in tears. I really hope you find her. I bet a lot of us in the area would gladly befriend her as well.'

The story had touched many in the local area, reflecting the powerful impact of community kindness.

Key Takeaways

• An elderly woman, living alone and without family, sent a heartfelt thank-you note to restaurant staff after receiving a free Christmas meal.
• The woman, who had been struggling financially, shared how the gesture made her day special amidst her loneliness.
• Restaurant owner Mike Jalili was moved by the letter and made efforts to track down the woman, hoping to invite her for a belated holiday celebration.
• The community responded with an outpouring of support, with many praising the restaurant’s kindness and expressing a desire to help the woman.

How has kindness impacted you during the holidays? We’d love to hear your thoughts—drop a comment below!

 

[Iggydi]

Some people are Angels. Not everyone thinks like this restaurant owner. So nice too, that there are people that care for others