Christmas 'Angels' Cover Balances on Layaway

Cheryl Dinitto has worked in retail sales for 30 years, but has never seen anything like it.

Families, singles, young couples, all have come into Milford in recent days to offer to pay off balances for other shoppers using layaway for gifts. Many of the Christmas 'Angels' are specifically asking that their contributions go to people trying to buy toys, said Dinitto, store manager.

The contributions started this week, and picked up over the weekend, as more people became aware of the possibility of becoming "Secret Santa." News sites, including CNN, began airing stories last week about people paying off others' layaway balances. The charitable trend began in the Midwest and has since spread across the country.

In Milford, some of the benefactors have asked to wipe out balances for several people at once.

"A lot of people are trying to help multiple people," said Dinitto. "A lot of folks have asked for layaways with toys." Dinitto has the happy task of calling the layaway customers, to tell them someone has covered their remaining balances.

"Part of my job is I get to be the nice one — I make the calls."

Dinitto has never seen anything like it. And the people on the other end of the line, some of whom have been paying diligently, every two weeks, are stunned. The store offers eight- and 12-week layaway plans.

"I have never seen such an outpouring of kindness and generosity. There are a lot of people who want to do something nice for people."