'Secret Santa' Pays Off Overdue Lunch Balances for Kids at Pennsylvania Elementary School

— -- A kindhearted stranger has paid off more than $900 in overdue lunch balances for students at an elementary school in Herminie, Pennsylvania.

"We're calling him our 'Secret Santa,'" said Amy Larcinese, principal of HW Good Elementary School.

Larcinese told ABC News today that a "gentleman who did not want to be identified" made the "generous offer" over the phone this past Monday. On Wednesday, Dec. 7, he came in with a check, she said.

"We were stunned and so thankful," she said. "We have a lot of families in really hard times right now, and he is making such a difference in their lives."

Larcinese said that her school has about 300 students from kindergarten through fourth grade and that the "Secret Santa" helped 44 of those children.

The principal added that the mystery man has also offered to help one family that is struggling significantly more than others by paying for that child's meals for the rest of the month.

Larcinese said that the parents of the 44 students the "Secret Santa" helped were notified that their balances were cleared on Thursday.

"A few families contacted us, saying how they were so appreciative of the help especially given the holidays," she said. "Sometimes, all we see are the sad things going on in the world, so it's really, really nice to know there are great people out there would give up their things to help others."