He is known as the "Good Samaritan" although his identity is unknown, and residents in the German city of Braunschweig are being kept enthralled and delighted by a mystery donor who has given €190,000 ($303,000) to the needy in unmarked envelopes stuffed with cash.
The real-life fairy tale unfolds in almost always the same way - an unwitting recipient opens his or her letter box to discover an anonymous white envelope full of €500 notes. With the cash is a local newspaper article about someone in need. Often it is the person who opens the letter.
The mystery benefactor started his donation bonanza in November after a story in the local Braunschweiger Zeitung told of a resident who had been robbed of thousands in cash.
Within days an envelope containing €500 notes was dropped through the letter box at a local victim support centre, with a copy of the article.
Since then, the nameless donor has given thousands to needy people and organisations throughout the city.
