Aleem Chaudhry, the owner of Gino's Stop-N-Buy deli situated in San Antonio provides his customers with yummy sandwiches. But he's got another special gift that makes him a godsend when Christmas arrives.
Every year, Aleem puts up a bright red mailbox at his deli. This mailbox, meant exclusively for 'letters to the North Pole' - initially placed as a fun Christmas decoration - took a funny turn when young children started to actually drop off letters meant for Santa Claus. The letters would be filled with requests for gifts, often. Most kids would also chat with Santa Claus and ask questions like what elves wear and how his reindeers fly.
Every year, Aleem puts up a bright red mailbox at his deli. This mailbox, meant exclusively for 'letters to the North Pole' - initially placed as a fun Christmas decoration - took a funny turn when young children started to actually drop off letters meant for Santa Claus. The letters would be filled with requests for gifts, often. Most kids would also chat with Santa Claus and ask questions like what elves wear and how his reindeers fly.
Cute, yes. But it's what happens next that makes Aleem a human gem. You see, he makes sure every child gets a response.
In a single year, Aleem Chaudhry received, read and wrote back to over 400 children's letters.
And as if that wasn't enough, he followed it up in 2019 by going even bigger, setting up a letter-writing station next to the magical red mailbox filled with marker pens, envelopes and paper so that the young kids who visit his store can write to Santa directly and sometime around Christmas, wake up to 'an actual response' from Santa Claus himself.
You can check out Aleem in action in the video below.
You can check out Aleem in action in the video below.
Heroes of Kindness:
Since 2017, every year, I take up the #BlogchatterA2Z & #AtoZChallenge and focus on showcasing lovely real-life heroes from around the world. The aim is to remind you that there is still plenty of good human beings all around you... to inspire you to smile once more.
Want more stories of compassion? I have Hundreds of 'Heroes of Kindness' to brighten your day here:
2017 edition (Articles - 40, Heroes - 67)
Heroes of Kindness - Indian edition
Heroes of Kindness - My Interviews
Heroes of Kindness - Indian edition
Heroes of Kindness - My Interviews
aww isn't that a great deed. He is a real life hero keeping the magic of Santa alive and hopes of kids alive! Great to know about him!
ReplyDeleteI know... simple yet kind
DeleteI was looking forward to your posts. You never disappoint with your kindness post. In these difficult times we need people like Aleem to spread joy. Waiting for more such amazing posts.
ReplyDeletehttps://trinalooksback.com/2020/04/01/anxiety-anger-and-alienation/
Thanks. Hope to keep the spirits up throughout April
DeleteWhat a fantastic idea and love how Aleem is executing this simple yet such a beautiful initiative and keeping the magic of Santa alive!!
ReplyDeleteI know. Something that we can easily emulate with so many festivals at our disposal in India, I feel
DeleteHow awesome. That is a true hero. What a great idea. And thanks for sharing. I am looking forward to your posts.
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Thanks. Loved your first post. Pertinent to the world we are in today
DeleteHello Dr. Roshan! I am reading your blogs from last few years. And I really enjoy your positive posts. Alden's story is an inspiring one. Will be back again here for some more positive vibes. 🙂
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet gesture indeed! He really is Santa reincarnated :)
ReplyDeleteIn such a simple way, he becomes Santa Claus for so many, right
DeleteWow, what a good man. How happy the kids would be on receiving letters from their Santa.
ReplyDeleteExactly, na :)
DeleteThat is such a sweet thing to do. It must take so much effort to write a personalised reply to each kid. A real hero.
ReplyDeleteSimple acts of kindness like this will sure fill the hearts of the children with hope. I am sure it has a potential to trigger a chain reaction of kindness.
ReplyDeleteMore power to Santa Aleem
A few days back I went to a kids birthday party. After the thing ended, a 4-year old was sobbing, waiting for his mother to come pick him up. I tried to distract him by just talking to him. After a few minutes his mother came and he bid me goodbye with the tightest hug!
ReplyDeleteKids do understand kindness and respond to it in their own ways. This guy is doing the sweetest thing!
Sometimes it really takes so little to make people happy.
ReplyDelete@JazzFeathers
The Old Shelter - Living the Twenties
That's utterly amazing. But my daughter also wrote to Santa and got a letter from him ( from Finland). This proved that if you have faith you can make things happen. Aleem's gesture is heartwarming. I admire you for looking for goodness and coming up with wonderful real life stories day after day. Truly you are an inspiration to us all
ReplyDeleteKudos to you for the kind of work you do and kindness you keep spreading. I look forward to A2Z every year to read your posts and I'm going to follow all of them throughout the month.
ReplyDeleteThats so sweet of him to respond to all the children. Very nice gesture.
ReplyDeleteThat is indeed a very nice gesture from Aleem and how thrilling for the kids! A reply from Santa to their letters! Wow!
ReplyDeleteWow! Aleem's actually Santa Claus! <3 Isn't it?
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet thing for him to do. I'm sure it makes for many happy children at Christmas. Weekends In Maine
ReplyDeleteSuch a wonderful thing to do, bringing so much joy into the world. I can only imagine how those supplies next to the postbox are used - marker pens FTW. Made me smile so much. Best wishes for the AtoZ.
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Virginia's Parlour - The Manor (Adult concepts - nothing explicit in posts)
Tasha's Thinkings - Vampire Drabbles
Wow! Some people do go out of their way and invest time and energy in making others happy. Another wonderful post Roshan
ReplyDeleteWhat a heartfelt gesture and can be done only by someone who truly understands what a child feels by retaining this belief of Santa. God bless Mr Choudhary.
ReplyDeleteAww, what a kind thing to do. This is so heartwarming.
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