One generous man is giving Santa Claus a run for his money this year.
On Dec. 6, an anonymous donor -- popularly called "Secret Santa" -- gave a Walmart in Bellefontaine, Ohio, $25,000 in gift cards to pay off about 100 layaway accounts, a Walmart spokeswoman told local news website ConnectToHome.
The act of kindness comes almost exactly one year after an anonymous man donated $27,000 to cover layaway costs -- at the same Walmart, according to the website.
Store manager Jennifer Schumacher believes that this year's Secret Santa is likely the same man who made last year's generous donation, the Springfield News-Sun reported.
The donor chose to stay anonymous but wanted to make sure his money first went toward accounts with toys on them.
His kindness has inspired others to pay it forward.
Kim Summers, one of the Walmart customers that the "Secret Santa" helped out this year, told the paper that when the store called to say her layaway account balance was zero, she decided to give back to her local food pantry and help a friend in need.
"It brings back the spirit of Christmas," Summers said, "and makes people believe again."
Just last week, a businessman in Florida paid half of every layaway bill over $200 at his local Walmart, resulting in more than $20,000 worth of charges. And in August, a "layaway angel" covered 16 back-to-school bills at a Kmart in Maine.
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