MOUNT VERNON — On Thursday, Christmas came early for a handful of shoppers at the Goodwill store on Parrott Street.
As the customers browsed through the store, an unusual event occurred. Witnesses told the News a tall, older gentleman, unfamiliar to anyone in the store, was seen walking through the store with what looked like bank envelopes in one hand. The anonymous donor then simply handed out the envelopes to people with a “Merry Christmas,” and disappeared, one person said.
“That’s the spirit of Christmas,” the individual added. “It made me feel like I was a kid again.”
The man generously handed one of the envelopes to one store patron who thought it was just trash and dropped it on the floor. Feeling guilty about littering, the customer picked up the envelope to dispose of it properly and, in amazement, discovered a $50 bill inside.
“It was unbelievable,” said Ted Bisbee, one of the beneficiaries. “It is stunning that the joy of Christmas is still around. I have no idea who he was. He just came in and handed my wife an envelope and said ‘Merry Christmas.’ When I turned around and looked — he was gone. I looked in the envelope and there was $50. I thought ‘What?’ ... It was stunning that there is still this generosity left. It makes you believe in Christmas all over again. God is alive.”
