On Monday, an anonymous couple known only as Elf 32A and Mrs. Claus carried on their Secret Santa tradition for the eighteenth year, handing out cash to people in and around the Lincoln Park area of Detroit. They spent the day giving $100 bills at a restaurant, two schools, and bus stops, and even stepped onto a bus with help from local police officers so every passenger could receive a surprise gift. The couple says the money comes straight from their own pockets and that they hope to keep going for as long as they can.
Over the course of the day, they gave away $12-thousand, bringing their total gifts since 2008 to about $245-thousand. One of the recipients, school staff member Danielle Prior, received $200 to help stock an after school store where students trade pride card rewards for small items. The pair describe themselves as comfortable but not wealthy, simply grateful for the joy that comes with giving.
At one stop, a man told Mrs. Claus he’d missed them by a single bus stop last year and feared he’d never have the chance again. Seeing them return, he says, made him feel like his turn had finally arrived. Mrs. Claus says moments like that capture the spirit that keeps them coming back each holiday season.
Source: FREEP
Photo: inhauscreative / E+ / Getty Images