Calling all layaway angels.
In keeping with the Christmas spirit, anonymous do-gooders have been spreading cheer this holiday season, paying off more than $4,000 worth of layaway items at Kmart and Walmart in Mitchell.
"We call them layaway angels," said Jon Kruckenberg, store manager at Mitchell Kmart.
It happens almost every year, he said, during the holidays, when the store sees its busiest time of year for layaway purchases.
"It just seems to be through the Christmas season, when people try to go that extra mile to help out those that are struggling a little more," he said.
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Often, the do-gooders seek out people trying to purchase toys, or other items for young families, children in particular. This year's layaway angels, who wanted to remain anonymous, paid off $1,500 a couple of weeks ago, and another $2,500 worth of items on Saturday. The first round affected about six layaways, Kruckenberg said, while the second round paid off around 15 layaways -- that's about 20 families.
"It definitely made a difference," he said.
Layaway is a payment system offered by some retailers that allows customers to pick out their items, put some cash down, and make payments until the item is paid off. Kmart requires $10 as a down payment, and Kruckenberg said the typical layaway payment schedule lasts eight to 12 weeks.
A Walmart employee confirmed that someone also paid off some layaway items at Mitchell's Walmart store recently, but declined to provide any further details, saying the customer wished all information to remain anonymous.
Kruckenberg doesn't know if it was the same person who paid for both rounds, or if it's the same people from previous years. But, anonymous stranger, layaway angel, secret Santa -- no matter how they're known, Kruckenberg said it exemplifies the Christmas spirit.
"It is amazing how people help out people they don't even know," he said.
