The "layaway angels" have returned to the Kmart on Tilghman Street and so far, at least 10 people who have been paying off Christmas presents every week have experienced a true random act of kindness.
Kmart Manager Sandra Villalobos said it's an emotional experience when people discover their balance has been paid.
"There are people who have lost their jobs and come in to cancel their orders and then they find out it's been paid for," Villalobos said. "Some of them cry."
There was one time recently when a layaway angel was paying off an order and saw a man and his family trying to put a Christmas tree on layaway. Villalobos said Kmart doesn't lay away seasonal items and the kindhearted shopper heard the conversation and paid for the tree.
Kmart employee Caitlyn Denor said they look for layaway orders with lots of toys when an anonymous shopper wants to help. Kmart then calls customers to let them know their order has been paid. Denor said the reactions are priceless.
Some of these good Samaritans pay all but a dollar so customers who stop by to make a payment are surprised. Employees expect more layaway angels will stop by as Christmas nears.
Some people think the trend may have started in Michigan. Patch first reported on layaway angels on Dec. 16, 2011. Stories of anonymous layaway payoffs were then reported from South Carolina to Iowa and Wisconsin to California. The epidemic of giving also cheered families in New Jersey.
