So here's the deal. Like many gifties on the Reddit Secret Santa exchange, I provided a wish list of various items. But this year, I added something extra. If my Santa wished, I would be happy with nothing more than a donation to a local humane society.

Santa stayed in touch with me throughout the holidays, letting me know that there was one gift waiting to arrive, and then the whole package would arrive together.

Last Friday ... the package left Santa's workshop, en route to my home.

Santa was certainly up to the challenge, as I found out today. Package arrived in my mailbox.

I opened the package, and inside was a roll of film. Delta Ilford HP5, good stuff for shooting black and white images. Santa knows I love to take pictures.

But what's the film box wrapped in?

It's a T-shirt - from The Humane Society of the United States. Santa understood, Santa knew that I wasn't looking for a Nintendo Switch or something obscenely expensive ... he knew that the best thing I could ask for for Christmas was the ability to make someone else's life better.

Ooh, there's a card inside.

And yes, the card has more information... apparently the card's existence means that a tree has been planted somewhere in a forest. Smooth.

But the card also had some waycool information from my Santa.

"I've made a $25 a month for 1 year donation in your name to my local Humane Society. That equals out to $300! So what was I waiting on? This awesome shirt, in your size! It's the gift you receive in exchange for your donation, so it's only fair, you get the shirt, to wear proudly! Much Love, u/WinterShimmer."

Well Santa also known as WinterShimmer, you have made my day, my week, my holiday season and everything else. The canister of film was great - but this gift is just above and beyond anything I could have ever imagined. For all the animals out there who need a helping hand - rescued dogs and stray cats, animals who just need a chance to have a forever home and a loving family to take care of (both ways, don'tcha know), this is IMHO the best Santa Reddit exchange I've ever been a part of.

Thank you a million times, /u/wintershimmer. This is the reason that Reddit Secret Santa exchanges are awesome as anything!