This time of year, it’s not out of this world to hear about generous folks going around and dropping coins in parking meters or picking up a round of drinks for strangers at the bar. But some truly secret Santa has helped out three Michigan Kmart customers by picking up their layaway tabs.

“This lady came up randomly and said, ‘Can I, you know, pay off some people’s layaway?'” the Kmart employee who dealt with the unidentified customer tells WOOD-TV.

At first she thought the woman was trying to pick up the three layaway orders but the mystery shopper, described as being in her 30s, told the staffer, “Nope, I just want to help people.”

The woman randomly picked and paid for three layaway tickets out of the approximately 800 on the store’s books. Her only requirement was that the orders included some toys. In the end, she paid a total of around $500, leaving a balance of $10 on each of the three tickets.

“They said that someone had paid $180 on my layaway and there was only $10 left,” one of the beneficiaries says of being told about the mystery woman’s gift. “I thought it was a joke…

“I thank her. It’s the best gift that I ever received, and it’s the gift of believing in people… And believing that there’s good out there, ’cause you don’t always see that.”

The only note left behind by the mystery shopper was a message on the receipt reading, “Happy Holiday from a friend.”

“It was really crazy the way she did it. She was so excited and so happy to do it,” says the employee who handled the transaction. “She had a great heart, and I told her that I felt like she had a great heart, and she said she doesn’t want to take appreciation for it. She just felt that she was blessed and she wanted to bless others.”

Secret Santa picks up 3 layaway bills: woodtv.com

Secret Santa picks up 3 layaway bills [WOODTV.com]

Thanks to Steve for the tip!

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