When Blake wrote a letter to Santa, he probably wasn’t anticipating it being read by thousands of people around the world. But that’s exactly what has happened.
The 7-year-old boy’s mom discovered the heartbreaking letter in her son’s backpack, and was so moved by Blake’s words, the domestic violence center they’re staying at — SafeHaven of Tarrant County in Texas — shared it on Facebook.
In the letter to the red-suited gift giver, Blake wrote:
Dear Santa,
We had to leave our house. Dad was mad. We had to do all the chores. Dad got everything he wanted. Mom said it was time to leave and she would take us to a safer place where we don’t have to be scared.
I’m still nervous. I don’t want to talk to the other kids. Are you going to come this Christmas? We don’t have any of our stuff here. Can you bring some chapter books, a dictionary, and a compass and a watch? I also want a very, very, very good dad. Can you do that, too?
Love, Blake
The post immediately went viral, amassing more than 1,000 shares and news coverage from numerous outlets. On Wednesday, SafeHaven assured those concerned “that Blake and his mom’s safety has not been compromised by sharing his letter.”
The shelter also gave page visitors the opportunity to donate money or to purchase items on the facility’s Amazon Wish List.
“We never anticipated it would get the kind of attention that it has gotten,” Kathryn Jacob, president and CEO of the nonprofit SafeHaven, told NBC’s Today.