BUFORD – What began as a simple holiday decoration at a Buford restaurant has turned into a heartfelt community effort to protect a child’s Christmas magic.

Earlier this week, staff at OY Restaurant discovered a handwritten letter tucked inside a small Santa mailbox on site,  a mailbox that employee Simona Marceca-Fuoco said is typically decorative and rarely used. The note, written by a young child, included a Christmas wish clearly intended for Santa Claus.

“It absolutely melted our hearts,” Marceca-Fuoco said. “You could tell right away this child still truly believes.”

The letter appeared to be signed by a child named Rafael, with a last name that was difficult to read, and included a phone number. Rather than calling the number directly and risking breaking the illusion of Santa, the restaurant turned to the Buford community for help.

A post shared on social media asked local residents to assist privately in identifying the family, with hopes that someone in the area or school system might recognize the name and help make the connection discreetly. “Our biggest concern was keeping the magic intact,” the restaurant wrote in the post. “We just want to make sure this Christmas wish gets where it belongs.”

The response from the community was immediate, with residents sharing the post and offering assistance while remaining mindful of the child’s belief. The moment has served as a reminder of the small, unexpected ways the holiday season brings people together.

“It’s such a simple thing, a child dropping a letter in a mailbox, but it’s turned into something really special,” the restaurant said. “That’s the beauty of Christmas and of this community.”

Anyone who believes they may know the family is encouraged to reach out privately so the letter can reach its intended destination – Santa included.