The week's good news: December 12, 2019

1. Texas deli owner plays Santa to kids who leave letters at his store

Kids in San Antonio, Texas, don't need to send their letters to the North Pole in order to get a response from Santa. Last year, Aleem Chaudhry bought a Christmas mailbox, and when he brought it home, his wife suggested he set it up at his deli, Gino's Stop-N-Buy. Immediately, kids started dropping off their letters to Santa. Chaudhry decided that every letter in the mailbox would receive a personalized response from Mr. Claus, and it's not just the kids who get excited by their mail. "What's better is when I look at the parents and the parents look so happy," Chaudhry told KENS5. Chaudhry enjoys reading the messages, which mostly contain gift requests and questions about reindeer and elves. In total, 400 letters were left in the mailbox over the last year.

KENS5

2. Brooklyn 'forever dad' fosters more than 50 young men over 12 years

When Guy Bryant was growing up, anyone who needed a place to go was welcome at his family's home. That's still the way it is today, with Bryant fostering more than 50 teenagers and young adults over the last 12 years. The Brooklyn resident works at New York City's Administration for Children Services, and knows how hard it can be for older kids in the foster system to find placements. He's now a foster dad to four young men between the ages of 15 and 23. It doesn't matter if they are minors or aged out of the system — Bryant will help with everything from schoolwork to adjusting to adulthood. "I don't think he just takes people and puts them in a better place," foster son Dior Dillard told Inside Edition. "To be honest, Mr. B saves lives." Bryant says he is their "forever dad," and estimates he keeps in touch with about 80 percent of the men he's fostered.

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Inside Edition

3. Berlin Zoo reveals names of adorable panda twin cubs

Meet Meng Xiang and Meng Yuan. The panda twin cubs were born at the Berlin Zoo this summer, and their names were revealed on Monday, following the Chinese tradition of announcing monikers 100 days after birth. Meng Xiang means "desired dream," while Meng Yuan means "fulfilled dream." In addition to their names, the Berlin Zoo also announced that the cubs are boys and both weigh 13.2 pounds. Meng Xiang and Meng Yuan are the first giant pandas ever born in Germany; pandas are endangered and there are only about 2,000 in the wild. Their parents, mom Meng Meng and dad Jiao Qing, arrived in Germany from China two years ago. As soon as they can walk on their own — likely early next year — the cubs will go on public display.

The Associated Press

4. Oregon bar that doubles as dog rescue finds homes for dozens of pups

At Fido's, your beer might come with a new best friend. The Portland, Oregon, establishment is the world's first bar/dog rescue. The idea came to owner Scott Porter after he heard about cat cafes, and decided it was time for a dog bar. The dogs have their own space where they live, but they visit the bar and mingle with patrons who are interested in adopting. Porter has partnered with Oregon Friends of Shelter Animals (OFOSA), an organization that rescues dogs from high-kill shelters in California. OFOSA representatives interview all potential dog owners to ensure they go to good homes. Since Fido's opened in early 2018, more than 70 dogs have been adopted, Today reports. Porter said it's been "extremely rewarding" to see the rescue dogs bond with their new owners.

Today

5. Michigan kindergartners support friend as his adoption is finalized

It was a big day for Michael Clark Jr., and he wanted all of his kindergarten classmates to be a part of it. Clark was adopted last Thursday, and his entire class came to the hearing in Grand Rapids, Michigan, filling up the courtroom benches and holding up paper hearts. They introduced themselves to Judge Patricia Gardner and told her how much they loved Clark. As soon as Gardner banged the gavel, making the adoption official, the kids burst into applause. "We began the school year as a family," Clark's teacher told WZZM. "Family doesn't have to be DNA, because family is support and love." After the event, as his father was being interviewed by WZZM, Clark couldn't contain his excitement. "I love my daddy," he told the reporter. "I love him so much." Clark was one of 36 children adopted during Kent County's 23rd annual Adoption Day.

WZZM