KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) -- Kansas City's new Secret Santa was hard at work handing out thousands of dollars to unsuspecting people on Wednesday.

The new Secret Santa gave out about $12,000 in Kansas City, Kan.

The surprised recipients included a 47-year-old man who's suffering from terminal cancer of the esophagus. Herman Smithey III says he'll use the money to pay bills and give his five kids a merry Christmas.

Kansas City's original Secret Santa, Larry Stewart, died in 2007. Stewart gave away about $1 million over more than 20 years by handing strangers $100 bills at Christmastime.

Stewart's legacy now includes about 20 Secret Santas in several cities, including Phoenix, Charlotte, N.C. and Ventura, Calif. This year, they hope to give out about $250,000.