Merry Christmas! Secret Santa giving continues to grow:

Secret Santa's paying layaway bills:  How cool is this!  Amazing story of Americans picking up the tabs for strangers' layaway bills. 

GRAND RAPIDS — In just a week’s time, one woman’s generosity at a Plainfield Township Kmart’s layaway counter has inspired similar acts of kindness not only at that store but at some of the retailer’s other stores in Michigan and across the country.
After buying a cart-load of items for the Toys for Tots campaign, the woman went back into the Plainfield Avenue NE store and spent about $500 to pay off the layaway accounts of three strangers.

News of her good deed inspired a man from a charity to go in the next day to pay off 14 accounts worth about $2,000. Since then, it has been a domino effect of generosity. People have been going to the store to pay off accounts or make payments for strangers.
As of Tuesday, more than 40 accounts have been paid off at the Plainfield store, with donations topping $5,000. The paid-off layaway accounts have averaged $150.
“It’s wonderful,” said Carol Vernon, assistant store manager at the store. “It’s just brought back the true spirit of Christmas.”
Vernon said it has been enjoyable watching the shock and gratitude expressed by those who benefited from these Secret Santas.
One was a woman whose husband was laid off from his job the day before, and another was a mother of eight children.
Vernon said those stepping forward to make the payments made sure the accounts involved items such as children’s clothing, coats and necessities.
“That’s one of the stipulations people had. It’s not going for frivolous stuff like big televisions,” she said.

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