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'Secret Santa' Strikes Again, This Time At New Jersey Goodwill Store

ABERDEEN, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- In an act of great kindness this holiday season, a "Secret Santa" picked a Goodwill store in New Jersey to hand out hundreds of dollars in cash.

As CBS 2's Derricke Dennis reported, Santa himself showed up unannounced in the aisles of the Goodwill store in Aberdeen.

He handed out surprise envelopes, each with $100. There were tears and hugs on the spot.

"That is so nice," one recipient said. "My friend is hysterical over there."

Recipients said they were shocked and a bit awestruck.

"And then I looked down and said, that looks like money, ha!" said Michael Gray of Lawrence Harbor.

This Secret Santa arrived all the way from Portland, Maine, making a special trip to New Jersey – a state hard hit by Superstorm Sandy.

"Obviously, it was a lot of economic devastation, and we wanted to see what we can do to help inspire other people to give a little bit more," the Secret Santa said.

The Aberdeen Goodwill store was handpicked by Santa because of the devastation in the surrounding communities. One worker lost her home in the storm.

"I'm from Union Beach, and the storm wiped out pretty much my house and most of the town's houses," Sarah Osbourne said.

And now, Osbourne can fill her gas tank – twice.

"We're all commuting from North Jersey for our jobs and stuff, just to take care of what we need to do," she said.

Where is Santa getting all the money? It's private money, but beyond that, it's a secret.

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