Homeless Man
© Michael Kolbe/Fotolia.comA homeless man panhandling in winter.
A wealthy Vancouver man has been playing secret Santa to strangers on the street, giving away hundreds of dollars for acts of kindness.

The anonymous benefactor, described as a white man in his 50s, has been disguising himself as a homeless person, surprising those who dig into their wallets by rewarding them instead.

Yogi Omar is one Vancouverite who met the do-gooder, but he initially declined to donate any of his change with a reflexive "Sorry, no."

Describing his encounter on Facebook later, Omar said "for some reason I was compelled to follow up" with an offer to help with food or clothing.

"I don't have any change, but have you eaten? I can buy you food. Or I can get you a coat or socks. What do you need?" he said.

Omar's kindness led the "homeless" man to explain that he and his family traditionally practice random acts of kindness around the holidays and that he wanted to reward his good deed. It turns out Omar had just spent a lot of his savings buying a plane ticket to China to visit his ailing father, and upon hearing this, the Good Samaritan decided to pay Omar's rent for January totalling $469.

Yogi Omar
© Jennifer Gauthier/ MetroYogi Omar stands at the corner of Pender and Hornby streets, the intersection where his generosity landed him $469 in cash.
"He just gave me cash!" reads Omar's excited Facebook note, written just after his encounter Thursday.

The mysterious stranger insisted on remaining anonymous but apparently hands out cash with his family for several hours a night for a whole week each year around Christmastime.

At least one other person, Amanda Adams, has run into the unknown Vancouver philanthropist this winter and was offered several hundred dollars to cover rent. But in Adams' case, the charity ran both ways. She and a friend had restaurant gift cards and warm winter clothing they were giving away to needy people on the streets when they encountered the man.

"I was floored and still am a bit in shock," she said on Facebook, writing that her money was going to a women's shelter as an anonymous gift.

It's all enough to bring a tear to your eye. As Omar said after his chance meeting: "You NEVER know what's going to happen in this life. Be kind to one another. Good night."