Editor: I wondered if anyone had told you about the mysterious benefactor dressed in black with a black cowboy hat, who stood outside 91Ô­´´ Superstore on the morning of Christmas Eve (Dec. 24) at about 10:45, quietly handing out $10 bills to everyone who passed him going into the store.

He did this for about 10 or 15 minutes, so must have given away several hundred dollars — maybe even close to $1,000. I was outside the store too, collecting for the Salvation Army, and quite a few people put their $10 bills in my kettle.

Each $10 bill had a Post-it note stuck to it from ‘Rick,’ wishing people Merry Christmas and recommending people do something nice for others this season as a way of paying it forward. He got handshakes and hugs and brought a smile and Christmas spirit to many people.

Then he walked into Superstore, bought a loaf of bread, and drove away.

Some people put the bill with the note still attached into the bucket.

Emma Pavey,

91Ô­´´