Secret Santas pay off Kmart layaways

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Dec. 12 (UPI) -- Kmart officials said Secret Santa donations paying off layaways at a Michigan store have spread to other stores in the state and as far away as California.

Pete Dunn, manager of the Kmart store on Plainfield Avenue in Grand Rapids, said the donations began when an anonymous woman made a $500 donation toward three layaways Dec. 5 and the following day a $2,000 anonymous gift came in to pay off 14 layaways, The Detroit News reported Monday.

Dunn said the store has since received $150 to $300 in donations each day and he said the trend has sprung up in other stores in Michigan and California.

"It's been really terrific. It brightens everyone's day," Dunn said. "Everyone's talking about it. This just kind of reaffirms the Christmas spirit."