Secret Santa in huge toy swoop

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 21: Big-hearted Bermuda residents yesterday helped out cash-strapped families by clearing the total layaway bill at the Phoenix Stores’ toy and children’s departments.

“We had an anonymous Santa who completely cleared all the layaways which were outstanding,” Phoenix president George Grundmuller told us.

“He wanted to stay very private — he was representing a group of people. It’s a really heart-warming story and it’s nice to see what great Christmas spirit there is out there.”

Christmas shoppers short of funds routinely put gifts aside with a view to paying for them in full when they raise enough money.

The mystery benefactor approached Phoenix yesterday morning.

Mr Grundmuller declined to say how much the Christmas gesture had cost – but confirmed it was a “substantial” amount.

“It’s nice to see that there are people in Bermuda who really care and give back a bit, he told us.

“That’s what happened in this case – they could see how difficult it was for some people, especially in the current economic climate.

“It was a fabulous gesture and just great Christmas spirit.

“We’re now in the process of contacting people to them the good news that their bills have been paid off – there are going to be a lot of happy people.”

He said: “They didn’t do it to get recognition – but there is so much negativity about shootings and things and this is such a heart-warming story, I asked if I could share it.”

The donors may have been inspired by a string of ‘secret Santa’ donations at stores across America. CBC news reported at the weekend that anonymous donors dubbed layaway angels had been paying off outstanding bills at stores, including retail chains Kmart and Wal-Mart.

The station reported that scores of anonymous donors had picked up outstanding bills for toys and games put on layaway by impoverished parents.

Secret Santas have popped up in Indiana, Nebraska, Michigan, Montana and Illinois.

In one Kmart store in Indianapolis, Indiana, a middle-aged woman paid off 50 layaway bills at a Kmart and on the way out of the shop paid for two shopping carts full of toys for a woman in the queue at a cash register.

Phoenix toy department manager Jacquelyn Napier-Marsh said: “I haven’t come across anything like this before, although I know it has happened in the States.

“It’s so wonderful, especially at this time of the year and because a lot of families out there are struggling.