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Layaway Angels

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Layaway Angels are Back at Kmart

So far, layaway angels have paid off about 10 orders for Kmart customers.

  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…

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Will Layaway Angels Return This Holiday Season?

Last year, "layaway angels" brought generosity and surprise to shoppers across the Lehigh Valley

Will a new wave a "layaway angels" hit stores this holiday shopping season? In 2011, a trend of anonymous shoppers paying off lawaways for strangers made headlines across the United States and in the Lehigh Valley. Layaway angels paid off at least $7,000 worth of purchases in Bethlehem last year. Tell us if you hear any reports of layaway angels in the Lehigh Valley. Send e-mail to susan.koomar@patch.com. Store managers chose layaways that were delinquent and that included children's toys, figuring the layaway angels would have the biggest impact by covering those purchases. Managers then called the layaway customers to inform them of their good fortune. The wave of generosity hit the Tilghman Street store in South Whitehall and a store in…

Al Fundo

6:38 pm on Monday, December 3, 2012

The first three agree "that they should not return"...   more ›

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Layaway Angels Continue to Spread Generosity

More anonymous donors have been paying off layaway orders for strangers since Patch first reported on the trend.

Across the country, anonymous benefactors have been dropping into local Kmarts and paying off layaway balances for families with children. It’s difficult to tell where this trend of generosity started – you can see reports from Patch sites across the country above – but it’s clear that where “layaway angels” tread, tears of joy follow. Since we first reported about layaway angels, 14 more people appeared at the Kmart in Palmer Township and paid off 20 contracts, according to store manager Rich Riddell. One angel, he said, read the article on Patch and went to the store  because she thought it was a wonderful idea. "One customer thought it was a hoax ... until she came in," Riddell said. "She broke down into tears when we brought out her …

James Stewart

10:47 pm on Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Get some laway help for my little mentally I'll brother. It's just he an I could use it to start a laway 400.00 bucks...any miracles left? Monte_carlo_37207@yahoo.com please   more ›

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Kmart Layaway Angel Trend Hits Lehigh Valley

Anonymous shoppers are paying off layaways for strangers at Kmart stores.

A nationwide trend of anonymous shoppers paying off lawaways for strangers at Kmart stores has hit the Lehigh Valley including the Kmarts on Linden Street in Bethlehem and Tilghman Street in South Whitehall Township. The customers' response? "They're in shock," said Nichol Drozd, assistant manager at the Kmart in South Whitehall.  "Then they end up in tears." On Monday, a woman paid off four layaways that totaled $600, Drozd said. The woman was among at least 10 people who paid off $1,500 in layaway at the store that included children's winter clothing, boots and games. More than 10 families have been helped. "It is very touching," Drozd said. "We just had three over the weekend," the Bethlehem Kmart Assistant Manager Diane Charles told …

Emily

10:06 pm on Tuesday, December 20, 2011

I've worked for Kmart in layaway for four years I always heard of layaway angels but never seen it happen before it amazes me how many people came in and payed on other peoples layaways this year there have been 19 layaways that been payed off just on the shift I worked its been a great just to see the people cry giving the money and the people who pick it up some people give from 30 to 500 …   more ›

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