A Heartbreaking Request
It happens to be that Riley had been keeping something from her parents. One of her schoolmates had been going through rough times and all Riley wanted for Christmas was for her friend to be happy! > “Dear Santa, kids in my class say you’re not real, but I still believe. Also, my friend lost her dad, and her family is living in her friend’s backyard. Please help! I hope it is ok to not ask for a present”, read her letter.
The worker dressed as Santa showed the letter to the mall's department manager Kevin Betchner, who decided at once that he wanted to meet Riley in person. The store uploaded a picture of the letter on social media, and thanks to the thousands of likes and shares it received, Riley's parents eventually reached out to Betchner. The man interviewed Riley's family and the whole story went viral.