DAVENPORT, Iowa—
An act of kindness is making the holidays a little brighter for some lucky Quad Citians.An anonymous donor has paid off the layaways for four people.
We're told the person who did this looked for recipients with kids and decided to fill their Christmas stocking by taking the load of layaway off them.
We spoke with one of the lucky shoppers.
"I was shocked," said Katie Risdal, who's new to the area and got a warm introduction to the Quad Cities when someone, who doesn't want their identity revealed, paid her layaway debt off at the K-mart on Brady Street in Davenport.
"It's nice," said Risdal. "I'm a single mom and it is hard. Holidays are hard being by myself and just now starting over again."
Three other people had their debts paid off also, adding up to hundreds of dollars on the part of the donor.
It's one of several layaway payoffs that have happened across the country, in places like Grand Rapids and Anaheim, California.
Once one person did it, others followed suit.
"I've been in this store 11 years and I've never seen anything like this," said Amie Stone, the store's manager, who also says this latest act of kindness has inspired her and the store's staff to give back.
"We were hoping it would encourage more shoppers to do the same," said Stone.
The donation comes at a time when people like Katie could use help and for anyone else having a tough holiday this year, she says, keep the hope alive because you never know when a layaway angel will give you an early Christmas gift.
"There are good people out there and good people will help in big ways."
