Anonymous donor pays off layaways at Colorado Springs Walmart

A mystery Secret Santa is providing cheer to many Walmart shoppers in Colorado Springs.

A woman says she received a text message from Walmart on 8th Street Sunday night letting her know an anonymous donor paid off her layaway.

"I called the store and after speaking with the lady in charge of layaways, she informed me several layaways had been paid off," she said.

She tells us the donation couldn't have come at a better time. Her 8-year-old daughter has been sick, causing her to miss work. The deadline to pay and pick up the layaways was Monday, and she doesn't believe she would have been able to pay for the gifts.

Walmart employees say at least three groups of people have made donations toward layaway bills, helping dozens of families.

"The joy it brings when you see those customers come in. Some of them break down they're so happy. Some of them may not have been able to afford to pay off their full layaway and a complete stranger who wanted to do it anonymously," said Ted Esker, a Walmart employee.

Although Yenise Matos didn't get her holiday bills paid off, she too had an anonymous donor looking over her this holiday season.

"We were in the toy aisle and we were just walking around and my mom and the baby in her arms and the blanket fell and a man came up to us and once he put the blanket in the baby's stroller he put a gift card," she said.

In a time she where she knows many are struggling, she says the experience is one she'll treasure.

"It gives us hope that love is still there and that's the magic of Christmas," she said.