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About 75 families will get a huge Christmas surprise this month thanks to a generous stranger.
An anonymous Walmart customer paid for $15,000 worth of toys, bicycles and other presents on layaway at the store’s Moraine, Ohio location.
“He felt that he was fortunate at this stage in his life to go out and actually play Santa Claus for some children,” said Walmart manager Ramy Awad.
The store has had customers pay for others’ layaway items during the holiday season before, but never for this many items, Awad said. The donor specifically asked to buy primarily toys and gifts that would likely go to children. He asked Walmart to keep his identity anonymous.
“In years past, we’ve literally had customers who have broken down in tears when they’ve come in to pay for layaway items, or to cancel their layaway items because they didn’t have enough money to take care of their children’s gifts,” Awad said. “They’ve broken down with joy, satisfaction and relief that there really is a Santa Claus out there.”
Hundreds of colorful boxes of toys lined the walls and bicycles hung from racks in the layaway section Wednesday evening, waiting for families to arrive and discover the surprise.
Customers who signed up for email or text notifications will be informed their items are paid for Thursday or Friday. Others will discover the gifts when they come in to the store to pick them up.
“I think it’s a blessing. A lot of people can’t afford Christmas for their kids,” said Erica Williams, a Walmart shopper. “Anyone who receives that blessing, God bless them. They’re very lucky.”
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