Before he died, Stewart expressed how much he would miss his annual unmerited giving spree, during which he was reported to have handed out about 1.3 million dollars. When Kansas City's "secret Santa," Larry Stewart died two years ago, he passed on his legacy of undercover giving to a friend, who promised Stewart that he would be a secret Santa the following year.
The friend honored his promise to the benevolent millionaire, and hopes to expand the practice to every state, in the future.
Last week, the Kansas City Santa, and another from the St. Louis area, reportedly handed out $20,000 in $100 bills to unsuspecting and needy recipients in convenience and thrift stores, a small auto repair shop, and a health clinic.
The gift may come with a hug and a word of encouragement, but always includes the directive to "do something nice for someone--pass it on," and is bestowed without judgment.
"I have three daughters, and I can't get unemployment yet. I was down in food," Cynthia Brown, a gift recipient, told an AP reporter. The secret Santa gave her $100 while she waited at a health clinic; it was exactly the amount she had asked to borrow from her mother the night before.
Another beneficiary was overcome with emotion, collapsing into the arms of the undercover Santa when presented with the money. "God provides," she said. "This is real emotional for me."
According to the Kansas City Santa, anyone can be such a gift-giver. Larry Stewart began the practice back in December of 1979, after being fired from his job. He handed his waitress a $20 bill telling her to keep the change, and her copious gratitude is what reportedly struck him, sparking the idea.
Before he died, Stewart expressed how much he would miss his annual unmerited giving spree, during which he was reported to have handed out about 1.3 million dollars.
In this economy, they weren't hard to find.
Cynthia Brown, 40, was laid off three weeks ago from her food service job. Santa found her at the St. Louis County health clinic and gave her $100, exactly what she had asked to borrow from her mother a night ago to buy food.
"I have three daughters, and I can't get unemployment yet. I was down in food," she said.
Leotta Burbank, 50, of West Frankfurt, Illinois, was at a thrift store Friday to buy decorations for her sister-in-law's room at a St. Louis hospice, where she is dying of pancreatic cancer.
When Santa gave her money, Burbank collapsed into his arms and wouldn't stop hugging him.
"God provides," she said. "This is real emotional for me."
For the secret Santas, it's not about keeping Stewart's memory alive as much as the meaning behind his legacy.
"It's not about the man, it's not about the money, it's about the message," the Kansas City Santa said. "Anyone can be a secret Santa with a kind word, gesture, a helping hand."
He said the money is given without judgment, but on the condition that the receiver pass along a kindness to someone else. Stewart began his holiday tradition at a restaurant in December 1979, after he had just been fired. He gave a waitress $20 and told her to keep the change and was struck by her gratitude.
Stewart also gave money to community causes in Kansas City and his hometown in Mississippi.
The secret Santas want to expand their operation to every state, but so far only nine givers operate in Charlotte, North Carolina, Phoenix, St. Louis and Kansas City. They plan to start giving in Detroit this holiday season.
Source: AP
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