'Secret Santa' Enlists Police Officer's Help To Bless Drivers with Christmas Money
A past act of “Christmas Kindness” has set the bar high for all future good Samaritans. It all started in Harrison County, West Virginia.
Larry Stout of the Anmoore Police Department shared his unique opportunity to spread some extra love one Christmas season.
“Right before Christmas I was blessed with the opportunity to do something for my community,” Stout says in a YouTube video.
“A wonderful individual approached me and asked if I would be interested in assisting them with trying to make some people’s Christmas a little bit better,” he goes on.
We all know the holidays can be rough. If you’ve ever struggled (and most of us have), you understand the discouragement and disappointment that comes along with not being able to provide much in the way of gifts for your children, friends or family members.
Officer Stout (now a sergeant according to his Facebook page) set out to surprise random people with gifts from “a very generous secret Santa.”
What began as traffic stops turned out to be so much more than the unsuspecting citizens could have hoped for.
No one likes to be pulled over, but when you see what the kind police officer gives these people instead of a ticket, you might just be moved to do something similar yourself.
The reactions of these community members are priceless. When they open a Christmas card and find money inside, their facial expressions say it all.
“What is that now? A hundred dollar bill?” one man says. “Who’s this from?… Oh my golly, this is unbelievable!”
Unbelievable is right. What a way to make more than one stranger’s holiday season merry and bright. In the end, this isn’t really about money at all.
“I want people to know that when they see the police out, we are the good guys, we’re there to help,” Stout says.
“Christmas doesn’t come from a store,” as Dr. Seuss would say. Money can’t buy happiness, but if you look closely, you’ll see these individuals most likely don’t care about fancy devices or expensive gadgets.
These people are probably in need. We can’t be sure of the specifics, but it’s easy to guess maybe one is a mom who can’t afford enough groceries. Perhaps another is a dad drowning in medical bills.
Whatever their struggles, this secret Santa — whoever he or she is — made a lasting impact. May this selfless gesture encourage us all to be a little more giving in this season of giving.
It doesn’t have to be much. $100 is more than most of us can sacrifice. But even a cup of coffee, a kind word or a hot meal go a long way. Be blessed as you bless others this season — and all year long, too.
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