By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2025-01-07 15:17:18 | Updated at 2025-01-08 13:49:13
22 hours ago
A Missouri restaurant is searching for an elderly woman who left the staff a tear-jerking note, thanking them for their kindness on Christmas Day.
Black Sheep Burgers & Shakes in downtown Springfield offered customers in need a free burger on Christmas from 11 am to 2 pm.
'All we ask is that you bring your hearts so we can celebrate Christmas together,' the owner, Mike Jalili, shared on Facebook.
An elderly patron - who said she was down to her very last dollar - came into the restaurant to take advantage of the generous promotion.
After having her meal and feeling overjoyed by the experience, she sent the restaurant a letter to express how grateful she was for the meal, especially since she has no family left to enjoy Christmas with.
Jalili said he wants to find her and to invite her to belatedly celebrate the holidays with him and his family.
'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 few days later we got this letter,' Jalili wrote.
In the message addressed to 'the owner, managers and staff,' the woman wrote: '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.
A elderly customer sent Black Sheep Burgers & Shakes in Springfield a message, thanking them for their kindness and explaining her loneliness around the holiday season
Black Sheep has four locations throughout the state of Missouri and has been ranked by TripAdvisor as having the best burgers in the state (pictured: the downtown Springfield location)
'I never thought of this years ago, but being the youngest in my family, I have seen everyone leave this Earth before me.'
She explained that she has been living off of her social security payments, forcing her to 'downsize' to renting a room and sharing a house.
'I feel like I'm in college again!' she wrote.
'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 was wonderful as were the staff. Thank you again for making it a day to remember! Blessings.'
Her appreciation did not go unnoticed - Jalili posted the letter on Facebook on Saturday, asking the restaurant's followers if they had any idea who wrote it.
Jalili wrote: '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 later elaborated.
Black Sheep customers have reacted to the note and Jalili's friendly intentions, saying they are 'not surprised' by his gesture.
One woman shared: '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!'
The owner of Black Sheep Burgers & Shakes in Springfield, Mike Jalili, said he wants to locate the sweet woman to invite her to his home for a belated holiday celebration
'My heart breaks for this poor lady but so thankful you guys were a safe place for her on a holiday,' another user chimed in.
'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,' someone said.
DailyMail.com has reached out to Jalili for comment.
According to their website, Black Sheep has four locations throughout Missouri. TripAdvisor ranked their burgers as the best in entire state.
