JACKSON, Miss. -- In a landscape of disaster wreaked by hurricanes, some people in Mississippi were startled once again by goodness.

"You know, you hear of people doing this, but nobody ever did it for me before," Gladies Lewis said.

KMBC's Bev Chapman reported that Kansas City's Secret Santa surprised people in parking lots, laundromats and an outreach center by handing out thousands of dollars in cash.

"This is amazing. God is good all the time," said a man who was given $100 by Secret Santa.

Kansas City's Secret Santa said that it all started when a man named Ted Horn gave him $20 at the Dixie Diner 34 years ago. This year, there is $50,000 in cash stamped with his name that has made its way into the hands of strangers.

In Wiggins, Santa gave the police chief $5,000 for the familes of two police officers who died this month on a domestic-violence call.

In Jackson, a widow and her seven children will spend their first holiday without their dad, but the kids will have clothes and toys thanks to Santa.

"It's real special to know that there's people who really care," an emotional Genny Bohrer said.

Some warehouse workers got a big surprise from Hall-of-Fame football player Dick Butkus, who went along with Santa for the fun.

Chapman reported that many of the people who got a big bill said that they plan to pass it along to someone who needs it more.

Contact KC's Secret Santa

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