A single mom from Colorado is still in disbelief after being on the receiving end of a random act of kindness. According to KOAA News 5, the single mom — who asked to be identified only by her first name, Lisa, was shocked when she learned that an anonymous couple had paid off her layaway bill at a local store. Now she’s speaking out about the gesture to thank the kindhearted strangers for literally saving her family’s Christmas.
The anonymous act happened just in the nick of time
Lisa told KOAA that she’d actually been thinking about returning the items she bought on layaway at a Burlington store, which included toys and clothes she planned to give her kids at Christmas. The department store chain currently offers a 30-day layaway plan, but the deadline was coming up soon.
In order to keep the items, she’d need to pay off the bill by December 18.
Unfortunately, that was money she didn't have
The Colorado Springs mom, who lives with partial paralysis, has been struggling financially in recent months, especially with the rising costs of living.
“It’s not easy nowadays from food to utilities to … gas money,” she told the news station.
In addition to working part-time, Lisa also receives disability payments. But thanks to inflation, it’s still not enough to cover everything.
She's certainly not alone
According to a recent report by Salary Finance, which surveyed 500 US adults in August, 66% of Americans admit they are worse off financially now than they were a year ago.
As a result, they’re dipping into their savings and pulling from other financial reserves just to make ends meet. Nearly three quarters (or 72%) of consumers surveyed said they have less in their savings account than they did last year, and 29% said they have completely depleted their savings altogther.
Luckily, Lisa got a call that changed everything
It was a staff member at Burlington, who first called to share the amazing news that her layaway bill had been completely paid off by a pair of kind strangers, who wished to remain anonymous.
Lisa was floored.
KOAA News 5
According to Burlington customer service supervisor Dolores Miramontes, who spoke with TODAY.com, the couple appeared to be in their mid-20s and recently came in wanting to pay off some layaway bills.
“They were interested in items that had been on layaway for the longest time,” Miramontes shared. “The man said he wanted to do something nice for the Christmas season.”
In the end, they wound up paying off nearly $500 in items, which included Lisa’s purchases. All they asked was that they remain anonymous.
Needless to say, the kind gesture left an impression on the single mom
Though she can’t thank them personally, she’s hoping that by sharing the story with others, her message of gratitude somehow reaches them.
“I want to say thank you to whoever that was that went out there and did that,” she told KOAA. “I really appreciate it.”
It's also inspired her pay it forward in other ways
While she can’t pay off pricey layaway bills for others, Lisa says that everyone — no matter their income level — can make a difference in someone else’s life.
“I fully believe that everyone can do good for someone,” Lisa told KOAA. “We may not have the money, we may not have a penny in our pocket to give. But whether it’s an encouraging word or some kind of support, I think we all can do good for others.”
