Mystery Donor Writes $10,000 Check for Secret Santa Program: Report

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ARLINGTON, VA — In the spirit of the holiday season, a retired Arlington County resident donated $10,000 to a Secret Santa program that benefits low-income residents, according to a report by The Washington Post.

The program hands out gift cards to low-income families so they can choose their own food and clothing or a gift for a child.

More than 4,800 households in Arlington receive food stamps right now which, for a family of four means they make less than $30,000 a year. For low-income households, gift cards from local grocery stores are a big help – and helping a parent buy a special gift for his or her child is priceless, the program notes on its Web site.

“Lending a hand to those in need is entrenched in our community values,” Kurt Larrick, who heads the Secret Santa initiative, told the newspaper.

The mystery man called the donation his tithe — usually one-tenth of something paid, typically to a church — and quickly left the office, the Post reported.

You can be a Secret Santa too. Although the deadline was Tuesday, late-arriving cards/checks will still be accepted:

Mail or hand deliver gift cards/checks to:
Secret Santa Program c/o Kurt Larrick
Department of Human Services
2100 Washington Blvd., 4th Floor
Arlington, VA 22204

Cards/checks may be designated for a particular beneficiary group or left undesignated. Undesignated gift cards are especially welcome and will be used where they’re needed most.

Include the value of the gift card (if it’s not printed on the card), a return address so we can acknowledge your gift and send a tax form, and a beneficiary designation if you choose one.

Questions? Contact Kurt Larrick at 703-228-1775.

Interested in exploring other ways to help those in need this holiday season? Visit the Arlington County Volunteer Center website at: www.arlingtonva.us/volunteer