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\"At a recent Christmas tree lighting event, a little girl saw one of our Santas in his sleigh so she got out of her car and quickly ran over to hug him,\" he said. \"It was a beautiful thing to see.\"

Camille Kauer, who lives in Cary, North Carolina, with her husband and daughter, said the experience of having her family take photos with Santa is a major highlight of her holiday season each year and her daughter is always happy she gets to meet with her \"true Santa.\"

\"PHOTO:
Courtesy Stafford Braxton
PHOTO: Camille Kauer and her family take a photo with Santa Warren of "Santas Just Like Me" at a festive holiday event.
>

\"Having a Santa that feels like family has changed the holidays for us,\" Kauer told \"GMA.\" \"We truly enjoy our annual pictures with them and even though my daughter is now 13, she still looks forward to it.\"

Due to the pandemic, Braxton's team of Santas are offering virtual visits and non-contact \"sleigh-bys\" for those who aren't local or prefer to social distance.

William Grogan, 59, is the newest Santa to join the team and said it's amazing to connect with children from different backgrounds.

\"When they first approach me, they're often hesitant. But as I start talking to them, they become more receptive,\" Grogan said. \"Just to see that transformation from skepticism to that comfort level has been a joy.\"

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A post shared by Santas Just Like Me (@blacksantanc)

Braxton hopes to grow Santas Just Like Me into a non-profit so he can bring Christmas joy to underrepresented communities without them having to worry about affording the experience. He said he has no plans of slowing down in the foreseeable future and will continue doing what he loves the most: bringing joy and diversity to the holiday season.

\"In the future, I'd love to do a Santa's workshop bus tour so we can travel to different regions and have communities to see a Santa that looks like them,\" Braxton said. \"We're family-oriented. That's how we started and that's how we're going to stay.\"

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