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‘Secret Santa’ pays off 194 layaway accounts at Walmart worth more than $46K
BY RON MUSSELMAN
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9TH 2016


EVERETT – 'Tis the season for giving and holiday shoppers at a Bedford County Walmart got the surprise of the holiday when they found out their Christmas gifts were already paid for.

A Walmart spokesman said a woman walked into the store Wednesday afternoon on behalf of a “Secret Santa,” with a check for more than $46,000 and paid for 194 layaway accounts.

“When customers quietly pay off others’ layaway items, we’re reminded how good people can be," Walmart said in a statement Friday. "The joy that comes from these transactions extends well beyond dollars and cents.

"We’re honored to be a small part of these random acts of kindness.”

Employees from the store said they spent the afternoon calling customers to tell them the news.

Naturally, customers were excited to hear the news.

“Well, my daughter played the message before I got there,” shopper Christa Morton said, “I asked if anyone called. She said, ‘You’re going to want to hear the message for yourself, so I said, ‘Am I going to be upset or mad?' and she said, ‘It’s going to make you cry,’

“So I walked upstairs and it was Walmart saying that our Christmas layaway can be picked up and that it was completely paid for.”

“I’m not the only one - some people really needed that this Christmas and I’m just grateful and thankful that they can do that and in their heart,” shopper Pamela Foor said.