One man in the small German town of Braunschweig was slipped an envelope filled with cash after he lost thousands of euros in a burglary. Another family, whose son was disabled in an accident, discovered a similar envelope. A hospice worker found yet another white envelope with $13,218 under her doormat. No one knows who is distributing the donations, but the mystery philanthropist has left 19 envelopes with a total of $250,256 in them around town since November, ABC News reports.
Some of the envelopes have been hidden in more anyone-can-find-it places like behind the hymnals in a church. Sometimes directions are included for how the money should be spent. One recipient tells the BBC, "This person gives money for good causes, like hospice, kindergarten, or churches." Says the mother of the injured boy, "I was driving when I heard the news. I had to park on the side of the road. I was speechless. For someone to act so selflessly … was astonishing." (More philanthropy stories.)