There are a number of entities and sources to remind us that the holiday season is the time for miracles and generosity. Compassion, giving, care and love are qualities as universal as the need for them, so it's a time for those who benefit from this kind of generosity to say, "Thank you." And Christmas is time for us to participate in fundraisers or donate to our favorite charities that help feed the hungry, clothe those who are cold and house the homeless. Many wealthy people across the country get into the Christmas spirit with generous anonymous giving. They write checks, place gold coins in their favorite charity's kettle, or volunteer.

Here is an inspiring and unique story about a "Secret Santa" who personally gave cash to needy people and wrote checks to dozens of other worthy causes, as well. This Secret Santa went to work wearing a red flannel shirt, a vest with lots of pockets for his cash and either a police department cap and/or a Santa hat. For safety reasons, at times, he was accompanied by two police officers. For the last 26 years, the Secret Santa, a wealthy businessman from the Kansas City area, doled out 100-dollar bills to offer some comfort to the distraught. Though he distributed thousands of dollars all year round, Christmas, he said, was his favorite time of year. He did not have rigid guidelines either for who received or for the area to distribute the money. He took his sleigh ride from the suburbs of Kansas City to the places where he could find extremely needy people. For example, in 2001, after the terrorist attacks, he went to New York. In 2002 he went to Washington to help the people victimized by the serial snipers; in 2003, San Diego neighborhoods, to help those devastated by wildfires; in 2004, Florida to help thousands left homeless by three hurricanes ... and so on. He sometimes ide.jpgied a few people from social services agencies, like police officers and firefighters. However, much of the money he gave away to the people he saw on the street, in diners, laundromats, pawn shops, fast-food chains, and other places. He said, "It's easy to find people who are in need, because a laundromat or pawn shop is the last place they want to be on Christmas Eve." One didn't have to be a homeless person. Sometimes it's people who have a job, but they are really struggling," he opined.

Secret Santa was raised in a small town in Mississippi by his grandparents, who survived on $33 a month and welfare staples. They constantly struggled to keep him fed and clothed. "When the soles of my shoes wore out, my grandmother put cardboard in the bottom of them," he recalled.

After Secret Santa had left home and completed college, in late winter of 1971, in the small town of Huston, Miss., he worked as a door-to-door salesman. He lost his job when the company went out of business. Within a few days, he had no money, food or shelter. Having no family to turn to, he approached a woman at a church to ask for help. He was told that the person who could help him had gone home for the day. "As I turned around, I knew I would never do that again," Santa said.

After living eight days in his yellow Datsun 510 and starving for two days, he went into a Dixie Diner and ordered a big breakfast. He sipped his coffee until the crowd thinned out, and then he acted as if he had lost his wallet. The owner of the diner, who also was the waiter and cook, came over near the stool where Santa was sitting and picked up a $20 dollar bill off the floor, and said, "Son, you must have dropped this."

As he left the diner, Santa vowed to remember the stranger's kindness and to help others when he could.

He packed all his belongings in a suitcase and then got onto the bus headed to Kansas where his cousin lived. Secret Santa got married, had children. He struggled for years to make a living.

He started his own company with the money from his father-in-law, but it failed.

He said, "I was a failure, failure as a husband and as a father." He got into his car with a handgun and thought about robbing a store, but stopped and returned home. He then received a call from his brother-in-law, offering him money to tide him over, he reflected.

After his failed business venture and after being fired from two jobs on successive Christmases, Secret Santa's funds were almost depleted. While at a drive-in restaurant, he saw a carhop without a heavy jacket, and said to himself, "I think I got it bad. She's out there in this cold making nickels and dimes." He paid her with $20 and told her to keep the change. With trembling lips and tears rolling down her cheeks, she said, "Sir, you have no idea what this means to me!" Much to his delight, Santa went to the bank that day and withdrew $200 and then drove around looking for people who could use a lift. Keeping his 1971 promise to help others when he could, Secret Santa hit the streets every December thereafter.

Here is an example: Stacey Burke, a mother of four in Independence, Mo., who had hit bottom, was sick from a brain aneurysm and unable to work. Her paralyzed husband who had been beaten up in 1993 lived in a nursing home. Although Burke lived in a tent with her children for a few weeks that year, she still managed to send her children to school. The Community Service League helped Burke rent a house. Learning about Burke's situation from the agency and meeting her in 1998, Santa gave her $4,000 and a Mother of the Year award.

In 1999, Secret Santa returned to Huston, Miss., found the owner of the Dixie Diner, Ted Horn, who had given him $20 in 1971. At that time, $20 seemed like $10,000. Santa gave $10,000 to the elderly gentleman whose wife was ill.

Santa had always been anonymous. However, in November 2006, after secretly giving away about $1.3 million in cash directly to the downtrodden, he revealed his identity. Secret Santa was 59-year-old business man Larry Stewart from the Kansas City suburb of Lee's Summit. He had made his millions in cable television and long-distance telephone service. The reason for the revelation was not to get recognition but to spread his mission.

Stewart wished that everyone had his spirit of giving and that others would continue his saga, for his was ending. In April 2006, Stewart had been diagnosed with esophageal cancer that had spread to his liver. The high cost of treatment, not covered by his insurance company, deterred him from his philanthropic work.

This past Christmas season was the last for this generous man. Mr. Stewart died on Jan. 13, 2007. I am sure thousands of people who have benefited by his largesse and others who have watched are missing him. Let's keep his family in our thoughts and prayers. May Mr. Stewart's soul rest in peace.

Thank goodness! Inspired by Stewart's mission, now, a few elves have taken over to continue his saga by giving away 100-dollar bills to the needy.

Let us share our blessings as we make Christmas a personal season for giving!

Mandakini Hiremath is a Claflin instructor and coordinator of the university's writing center.

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