Secret Santa Portland is getting ready for another ride through the state, to hand out envelopes containing crisp $100 bills to unsuspecting Mainers.

According to an email sent to the Portland Press Herald, the Secret Santa – who has remained anonymous during the six years he has given out money – and his helpers plan to give away $20,000 this year. If he reaches that goal, Secret Santa Portland will have given away $120,000 over six years.

In 2013, Secret Santa Portland visited a food pantry in Richmond, a dialysis clinic in Biddeford, the Make-A-Wish-Foundation headquarters in Portland, a job referral clinic in Portland, a commuter bus in Portland, two Goodwill stores and the Concord/Trailways bus station in Portland, on Christmas Eve.

All of his appearances are kept secret, with only a few staffers told in advance about a visit.

Secret Santa Portland, on his Facebook page, is asking people to suggest where he could make appearances.

“While we receive ideas of all kinds, please be aware that for reasons of safety, logistics and anonymity we can not honor requests for individuals in need,” he says on his Facebook page. “Please limit suggestions to public locations where we can go and likely meet up with a number of people that can really use some hope and a little helping hand this Christmas season.”

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The public can offer suggestions by emailing SecretSantaPortland@gmail.com or by visiting his Facebook page at “SecretSantaPortland.”

“Hopefully, we can inspire others with the means to do so, to undertake similar Secret Santa type events and multiply our efforts,” he said in his email to the Press Herald. “Nobody holds the rights to Secret Santa and we would love to run into others doing the same in 2014 and beyond.”

Dennis Hoey can be contacted at 791-6365 or at:

dhoey@pressherald.com


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