Union Beach Mom Cries After Man Pays Balance At Middletown Sears

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Brittany Reed knew she still owed a balance of $70 on her Sears layaway account.

But she never expected a perfect stranger would pay it, simply because it's the holiday season.

This Union Beach mom, 28, checked her Sears account app last Friday when she got home, and was shocked to discover the balance was $0.00. When she called the Sears in Middletown, to make sure it wasn't an error, she was speechless when a store manager told her that an anonymous man had paid off not only her balance, but that of several others as well.

“I was in tears when (the manager) told me that,” she told NJ 101.5, which first reported this beautiful story. “I’ve been struggling this year and that was literally a huge help.”

The manager of the Middletown Sears, Angela Somma, said the man paid off the balances for three people this year, and he has done this for several people in years past, as well, always around Christmas time. Somma said every year the man tells her his budget for how much he can spend, and they work together to find shoppers' balances that fit his budget.

He usually looks for layaway accounts that have children's clothing as purchases, so he's looking for parents and families to help.

He wants to remain anonymous, Somma said. Many of the people he helps are struggling financially and Somma said she's seen several customers in tears after learning their balance was paid off.

Reed said she can't even fathom who the man is, but she wants him to know she really appreciates it.

"To the person who did this, I hope you see this," she wrote on Hazlet NJ Residents NEWS! You See It, You Post It Here!! Facebook page. "To whomever paid off my Sears layaway, I truly appreciate it. You've made a tough time a little easier and certainly put a smile on my face after some bad times. TRULY APPRECIATE IT AND THANK YOU SO MUCH!!"

"I was super shocked," she told Patch. "I posted in a few pages because I was not sure which the person would be on, if any."

She also told NJ 101.5 she'll be able to buy her son more Christmas presents this year with the extra $70 the man saved her.

Photo of Reed and her son used with her permission.