Secret Santas know 'giving feels good'

PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) - It's the season for giving.

And at the Plainfield Kmart, the giving has been extremely generous this year.

Several secret Santas have donated more than $3,500 toward paying off the layaway bills of complete strangers -- it happened on four consecutive days last week.

And the story has spread, prompting a $5,000 donation to pay off layaway bills in Hastings and another $5,000 paid off by a single secret Santa in California on Saturday.

The gifts left the recipients and Kmart workers in awe.

"I thank her. It's the best gift that I ever received -- and it's the gift of believing in people," said Mary Chapin, whose layaway bill was one of the first three paid off by the original secret Santa, who still hasn't been identified -- and likely won't be.

But with the economy still struggling, what prompts the secret Santas to be so generous?

Matthew Downey of the Johnson Center for Philanthropy at Grand Valley State University told 24 Hour News 8 on Monday that the reason is simple:

"Giving feels good," said Downey. "It always feels good, regardless of the mechanism in which one chooses to act on it."

Downey applauded the kindness of the Kmart secret Santas, but reminded people that there are other ways to help during the holiday season.

He urged charitable people not to forget food pantries, homeless shelters and other non-profits that know their families in need personally. That personal knowledge, Downey said, will ensure that givers know exactly who is getting their money.

"Any kind of philanthropy is good, but I know that there are many organizations that really truly need the financial support this time of year because for a lot of families ... go to those charities first," said Downey.

But no matter how people choose to give, for many who donate to charities or who pay off a layaway bill for a stranger, the goal is the same: To put a smile on the face of someone in need.

The words of the original secret Santa, who kicked off a snowball effect, sum up the sentiment nicely: "Happy Holiday from a friend."

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Online:

The Charity Navigator: A site that helps research charities.

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24 Hour News 8's Dani Carlson contributed to this story.