It’s time to get ready for another round of unexpected holiday cheer.

Secret Santa Portland announced in a news release Wednesday that a person dressed in a Santa Claus suit will be distributing $100 bills at random to unsuspecting people this Christmas.

Secret Santa’s spokesman – identified in an email sent to the Portland Press Herald only as Santa’s media elf Tom – said Santa plans to give away more than $20,000 this year.

If Santa follows through on his promise, the campaign will have given away $140,000 since it began seven years ago in Portland at a Goodwill store.

No one knows in advance where Secret Santa will show up. He tries to target places where people in need might be present.

In 2011, for example, he visited the Mid Coast Hunger Prevention program, a food pantry in Brunswick.

Many of the people at the food pantry who were handed $100 bills burst into tears. One woman said it was a miracle.

This year’s tour could land just about anywhere in southern Maine. Secret Santa’s helpers are planning on four or five appearances, and are encouraging the public to offer suggestions on his Facebook page “SecretSantaPortland” or by email at SecretSantaPortland@gmail.com.

“In providing suggestions, please be aware that we cannot honor requests for specific individuals in need. We hope people will understand that it is impossible for us to reach out to assist people on a one-to-one basis, for safety and logistical reasons,” said the press release.

Secret Santa said he realizes that there are many people in need this year, but says he has taken the approach of targeting public locations such as thrift stores and food banks.

Secret Santa each year says he hopes that his display of generosity will spark interest in others “to pay it forward” by helping those less fortunate.

“Nobody holds the rights to Secret Santa and we would love to run into others doing the same in 2015 and beyond,” media Elf Tom wrote.

 

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