Santa’s secret service- The Dandenongs’ Secret Santa is encouraging others to follow his lead. 57305 Picture: Nigel Clements

By Casey Neill
HILLS residents in need receive a helping hand each Christmas from their very own Secret Santa.
The Good Samaritan, who does not want to reveal his identity, is encouraging others to follow his lead.
The Yarra Ranges man puts $100 aside each week to spend on meat vouchers for Dandenong Ranges Emergency Relief Service (DRERS) to give to its clients.
Last year the act cost him $3500. This year he’ll spend $5300 to help eight individuals and 20 families.
“I’m afraid of what next year’s going to look like,” he said.
“There’s even a limit to what I can do.”
“It would be nice to see more people do it.”
The Secret Santa took on the role after reading about Kansas man Larry Dean Stewart, who walked the streets at Christmas time giving away $100 notes to people in need.
Mr Stewart started his life in a poor home.
One night, he’d been unable to afford to eat for several days and ordered a meal at a dinner.
When the bill arrived, he pretended he’d forgotten his wallet. The owner said, “you must have dropped this” and slipped $20 into his hand.
From then on, Mr Stewart was determined to help others where he could.
The story inspired the hills’ Secret Santa, who didn’t want to see local kids miss out on Christmas.
“I can afford it at the moment, so I help when I possibly can,” he said.
He sponsors a child through the Smith Family, donates chicken eggs to social welfare charity Anglicare, and gives chocolate eggs and hot cross buns to DRERS each Easter.
“Around the world, when it comes down to food parcels for the needy, they’re all the same,” he said.
“I want to provide something they wouldn’t normally get through a relief service.”
Karen Clivaz works on the Christmas in the Hills project with the DRERS.
“I can’t tell you what it means to people, especially at Christmas,” she said.
“It allows people and their families to feel normal for a day – presents for the children and food on the table.”