Scotland students get mystery gift: $1K to pay forward

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SCOTLAND (AP) — Elementary school students in the southeastern South Dakota town of Scotland have received a mystery "pay it forward" package filled with $1,000 for the third time in eight years.

The anonymous donor, who has been nicknamed "Secret Santa," also sent packages in 2005 and 2010 that had 100 envelopes with $10 inside each, Superintendent Damon Alvey told the media.

The 2005 package was left at the school anonymously, and the 2010 package was left at a church for school officials to pick up. This year's package was mailed to the school.

The packages have included a letter that talks about the goodness in the world and that urges students to pass on their good fortune to others. School officials have distributed the money and hope to eventually put together a journal about how it was spent.

"Over the years, the kids have done something nice to benefit somebody in their family, or they have saved it up to do something bigger that would honor the secret gift," Alvey said. "We have kids who have given their gift to charitable events, and a number of them talked about buying gifts for their family. I think it's up to the imagination of the students."

"All in all, it's just really special to be part of it," the superintendent said. "It's nice to know someone is so generous in the community and is watching us. Obviously, he likes what he sees happening."

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