A kind gesture: Milwaukee community send cards to boy with autism after no one showed up to his birthday

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Kind strangers from Milwaukee and beyond are showering 10-year-old Andrew Schmidt with love by sending birthday cards with positive messages and toys after no one showed up to his birthday party.

"He was looking at all this food, decorations and no one wants to come to his party. So it hurt. It hurt me in a way I can't even begin to describe," said Kayla Sippel, mother of Andrew.

Sippel, who said her son is on the autism spectrum, said the 10-year-old was very upset when only four out of the 20 people they invited showed up. That's when Aaron Sippel, father of Andrew, called out for the help of the community.

"So I pretty much went onto the Milwaukee buy and sell page and I just asked you know ' look his birthday party didn't go as planned you know can someone send him a couple of cards just so you know he can feel like his birthday was something," said Sippel.

His post quickly gained traction. On Monday, the Sippel's received stacks of birthday cards for Andrew. That was only the beginning. So far they've counted over 70 cards and over 20 toys.

"The more it happens the better it makes him feel and just, he hasn't stopped smiling," said Kayla Sippel.

She said the gifts and birthday cards keep coming in. Sippel said Andrew anticipates the arrival of the mailman every day.

The Sippel's say they are very grateful for the support of the community and hope they see that the smallest gesture or act of kindness can go a long way.