Missouri 'Secret Santa' showers $100 bills on superstorm Sandy-hit areas in New York, New Jersey

Nov. 29, 2012: Janice Kennedy hugs Secret Santa after getting a $100 dollar bill from the wealthy philanthropist from Kansas City, Mo. while looking for clothes at the Salvation Army store in the boro of Staten Island, New York, N.Y. (AP)

Nov. 29, 2012: A wealthy philanthropist from Kansas City, Mo., known as Secret Santa, distributes $100 dollar bills to needy people at St. Joseph's Social Service Center in Elizabeth, N.J. (AP)

A Missouri man posing as "Secret Santa" is giving away $100,000 this holiday season and spent a day in New Jersey and New York giving money to people robbed of their belongings or homes by Superstorm Sandy.

But the Kansas City businessman says money is not the issue. It's about random acts of kindness.

Secret Santa started his East Coast visit Thursday in Elizabeth, N.J. In Staten Island, the anonymous benefactor walked up to surprised residents and thrust $100 bills into their hands.

He said he is setting an example and hopes others will follow.

Keeping close watch over the cash handouts was his security entourage -- police officers in uniform from New York and New Jersey, plus FBI agents. Some wore red caps marked with the word "elf."