A Utah woman said a mysterious stranger on the street handed her the money she needed to visit her ailing father in Illinois.

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Martina Morgan of Bountiful said she was returning to her car after Christmas shopping last week when a woman she did not know handed her an envelope, wished her a "Merry Christmas" and walked away, KSTU-TV, Salt Lake City, reported Monday.

"I opened it and she had left this little message. It reads, 'Merry Christmas, right now in my life I have more than I need so please take this money and use it for your needs. My family has once been on the receiving end and now it is our turn to give,'" Morgan said.

Morgan said the envelope also contained $500 cash, money she needed to purchase a plane ticket to visit her father, who lives in Illinois and was recently diagnosed with brain cancer.

"I didn't really have the finances to go see him right now, and that is exactly the amount I need to get there and back. And he could go anytime," Morgan said.

Morgan said she is very grateful for her gift from the Secret Santa.

"I wanted to tell her thank you. It didn't go to someone that wasn't appreciative because I really am so grateful," Morgan said.