Springs ‘Layaway Angels’ Give Thousands

Southern Coloradans have given thousands of dollars in hopes of making Christmas brighter for total strangers. Dozens of anonymous donors have paid off layaway accounts at area stores.

Managers at the two Kmarts in Colorado Springs said more than 100 customers have had their accounts paid off, and the donors, who are being called layaway angels, have spent well over $20,000.

“It’s made Christmas real to my employees and to me,” said Joe Hanks, who manages the Kmart on South Nevada. “What’s really fun is when I call up that customer and say, ‘Guess what? Someone came in and paid off your layaway.'”

Those calls have been going out all around southern Colorado and the nation. The layaway angel phenomenon is mainly happening at Kmarts, but local Sears stores said it’s happened there too.

Hanks said many of the accounts paid off were about to expire, and potential presents returned to the sales floor.

“An angel comes in, and guess what? (The family) now has a Christmas,” Hanks said.

Store employees and customers alike have been reduced to tears.

“I immediately just started crying,” said Lyndsi Cottrell, whose $200 layaway balance was paid. “I couldn’t believe it. I literally asked the girl three times if she was serious. We were budgeting, trying to figure out how to get it paid off in time.”

On Saturday, the presents the stranger helped buy for her 11-month-old daughter and 7-year-old stepdaughter were wrapped under their tree. Cottrell calls what happened a blessing.

“I just think it’s amazing that people are out there doing this,” she said. “I really hope someday I can do something that makes someone feel as good as I do.”