Secret Santa Larry Stewert
‘Twas the Tuesday eve before Christmas when shoppers at the Goodwill store in Portland, Maine received some unexpected good cheer courtesy of a man decked out in a red suit with a white beard. The merry old gent was giving out hundred dollar bills and by end of the night he’d spread $10,000 worth of good will to 100 people.
Aurora Parker, 46, was one of many who were worried they couldn’t even afford thrift store gifts for their loved ones. “I’ve been sitting around and crying a lot,” she told the Portland Press-Herald. “But this was awesome. I didn’t think Santa existed anymore.”
The Portland man, who wants to remain anonymous, is honoring Stewart’s legacy and hopes others will do the same. “I’m hoping for a multiplier effect,” he told the Portland Press-Herald. “I’m shocked that every major city in the United States doesn’t have at least one secret Santa doing something like this.” Already, there are similar Secret Santas in cities including Phoenix, Charlotte, Detroit and Tulsa.
So if you’ve got some extra cash after the holidays, it’s never the wrong season to slip into something red and comfortable to hit the streets in Larry’s honor.
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
That’s a heart warming story!
That is lovely. Thanks for sharing
Lovely post Jen. Always nice to read stories like this and learn of people like this.
What a lovely story. It’s nice to hear that some, albeit so very few, people realise that wealth can give you so much more than just ‘things’.
I love the pay it forward idea. One of our family’s most memorable Christmases was when we acted as a secret Santa for another family.
Great story. I heard something similar on the radio. A family picks out a needy neighbor each year, buys and wraps the presents, places them on the front stoop, rings the doorbell, then hides to see the surprised and grateful faces.
I’m a Kansas City native and Secret Santa was such a heartwarming story each year. One of the reporters for The Kansas City Star who covered his generosity for years (and kept his identity a secret) wrote a book about him, Jenn. You should check it out if you haven’t already!
I remember hearing about the original Secret Santa, too. So many people need him right now. I was just reading about a man who lost a good job to the recession and now works three jobs to keep his family afloat. Thanks for posting this. Perhaps some more good people will be inspired?
This is so heartwarming. Were I ever to be in the positive to do so, I hope I would.
What a wonderful story. Reading it made me smile and gave me the warm fuzzies…thanks for relaying this man’s generosity and kind spirit.
Wow, how do you find about about these amazing people and their amazing stories!
That’s such a kind thing to do. I am so touched by his generosity. I can see why you love being a journalist!!
What a heartwarming story! Thanks for sharing, and happy holidays!
What a great story! This just made my day.
Really really sweet. I can just imagine how these people felt.
NIce story, Jenn. Thanks!
What a beautiful idea! Thanks for sharing this. If only more people in the world were this kind-hearted.