Secret Santa strikes at Alpine Walmart

COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. (WOOD) - Random acts of Christmas kindness have been springing up all over West Michigan -- mainly with people paying others' layaway orders.

But a Pierson couple said that on Sunday, a man who gave them an envelope full of cash at random and saved Christmas for their kids.    

Phillip Butler said his wife Heather, her mother and their oldest daughter were shopping at the Walmart on Alpine Avenue on Sunday when a stranger walked up to them, tapped Heather on the shoulder, handed her an envelope and walked away.

When they held it up to the light they could see a $50 bill. When they opened it, they discovered $100 in cash.

The women tried to find the man to thank him, but he was gone. Then, they then called Phillip, who was at home watching the Lions' game, and told him what happened.

He said he's amazed by the secret Santa's kindness and trust.

"He didn't know what she would do with that money, and now my kids are going to have a beautiful Christmas," said Phillip Butler. "Just amazing to know that there still is good people out there. And if the guy that did do that is listening, I'd like to tell him thank you from our family to his."

Phillip said he has seen stories about people paying for others' layaway orders, but never thought something like this would happen to his family.