Anonymous Donor Gives Christmas Surprise To Tulsa Walmart Shoppers

Wednesday, December 17th 2014, 4:39 pm

By: Craig Day

A man paid off layaways that were about to expire for more than 100 families and that was just the start of his good deed.

You name it – race cars, Easy Bake ovens, monster trucks, bears and dolls - families had picked out nice presents sure to bring a smile to a child's face on Christmas morning.

The layaways on all those items, however, were only a matter of hours from expiring, without being paid off.

That was until an anonymous donor stepped in to help.

Major Jim Taylor with the Salvation Army said he didn't even know who the donor was, and said in his 27 years as an officer, he's never seen anything like it.

"You have someone step up and say, ‘It's in my heart, it's just in my heart to do something special. I have the ability. I want to do something special. Can you help me do it,'" Taylor said.

The anonymous donor paid off the outstanding balances on layaways at the Walmart at Admiral and Memorial for dozens of families.

"Think about it, 127 families with delinquent layaways. They were going to be canceled today if this guy hadn't stepped up," Taylor said.

The donor said he wants to help people who work hard to provide Christmas for their families, and wants everyone to have a Merry Christmas.

On top of paying off the layaways, he also gave each of those 127 families a $100 gift card, then told the Salvation Army to buy some toys for kids on the Angel Tree and add it to his tab.

"Tulsa is one of the most philanthropic cities in the country," said Taylor.

Thanks to an act of generosity, those toys will now end up in children's hands and keep smiles on their faces and the faces their families for quite some time.

"People who come along and do something like this are just a blessing," Taylor said.

The Salvation Army will start distributing Angel Tree gifts this Friday, so kids will have something under the tree Christmas morning.