At the end of November a secret Santa paid off dozens of Walmart layaway tabs in New York. In May someone paid off $10,000 in school lunch debts in Maine. In 2014 an anonymous benefactor paid off everyone’s layaway accounts ($24,000) at a Toys R Us outlet. These benefactors aren’t Bill or Melinda Gates. You don’t have to give millions or billions of dollars to make an impact on people’s lives. These people just lend a helping hand with what they can afford. There is no tax benefit to helping individuals.
In 1968, my wife Peggy and I were living at my parents’ small vacation home on Long Lake near Port Orchard. We were trying to save money to buy our first home. Although I was working at Boeing, they didn’t pay anything near what they are paying today. I worked the afternoon shift in Auburn. I would arrive home about 11:30. Peg would have dinner ready. The kids would be asleep in bed. We splurged and purchased a small black and white TV at White Front (Jafco Plaza) on 38th Street in Tacoma. It cost $99. We made payments. It was worth it. The television gave Peg the choice of reading, playing records, or watching TV while she waited for me to come home. Once home we ate and watched Steve Allen do crazy things with his guests on our little black and white.
We splurged and purchased a small black and white TV at White Front (Jafco Plaza) on 38th Street in Tacoma.We still owed $69 when one morning I walked up the driveway to get our mail. There was a letter from White Front with a statement that said our television was paid off. We knew we hadn’t paid it, so we called to tell White Front of their error. They were adamant that we owed nothing and that the bill had been paid. No one knew we were making payments on the TV, so it had to have been a stranger who paid life forward for us. I think we were making payments of seven dollars a month. With two babies under the age of two, the seven dollars a month we didn’t have to spend surely helped us.
The next year we bought a house and moved to Tacoma. A year later Boeing layoffs finally found me. Peg remembers the times . . . now with three children, “When our kids were preschoolers, I took them to KMart. I had to stand it line to get my check approved. This was done right next to the freshly popped popcorn stand. My son Del asked for popcorn. I had no cash and had to tell him no. His little face crumpled.” There was a man in front of them, dressed in jeans and a work coat. He turned around and said, “I’m in construction and I have enough money to buy this store, but I still have to stand in line to verify my check! I’ll buy the popcorn.” “The popcorn was not a big purchase, probably just a quarter but the kids were so pleased. His little act of kindness made their day.”
Every time I read of someone being generous I think of White Front, that little TV, KMart, a little bag of popcorn, and the small weight that was lifted off our shoulders to make life just a little bit better.
Don,
What a great story. I appreciate being reminded that there are some mighty fine people on our planet. All we normally hear about are mass shooters and other evil doers.
This past summer my wife and I, along with our adult daughter, her husband, and our two grandchildren were in a restaurant in Delaware.
Early on I had offered to pick up the entire tab. When the waitress came back to our table, she informed us that a man in the restaurant, an unknown stranger, had picked up everyone’s tab for the entire restaurant. Amazing. It does make you feel good. Also, his kind and generous act makes me want to pay it forward.
So comically, I got points for volunteering to pay for the meal and I ended up being able to keep all my money in my pocket.
Joseph Boyle
P.S. No Don, my desire to pay it forward does not guarantee you a free lunch.
Joseph,
Could you at least pay it sideways?????
Thanks for your comments. This is the anniversary day of the human rights declaration, which I’m sure most people know nothing about, but just in the latest news on Google this morning there were three secret Santa donations to strangers mentioned. This affirms that people do care about others . . . and that’s always nice to know.
I really like your story. It shows off generosity and great minds thinking alike. When I worked at Amtrak in downtown Tacoma there was a diner across the street from the depot. I ate there frequently and during the cold months I left money with the manager to buy a dinner or two for people who looked liked they needed a good meal. Not perhaps a secret Santa, but at least a helpful elf.
No free meal . . . but a warm and friendly relationship to carry us through the holidays.
Don
Don, your story and replies to it remind me of a time when I owned and operated a Seattle restaurant called The Surrogate Hostess. Its format was simple: fresh, healthy, vegetable-oriented food, served directly across of a cafeteria-style tray line that opened out on a big room with ten-plus person common tables. Customers could select what they wanted to eat and eat it with whomever they chose to, or not. Since we cooked fresh from a variety of cuisines, dining came with a touch of adventure in food and tablemates. Our easy atmosphere made interaction equally easy. The place was very popular and at mealtimes the serving line often went out the door. But it moved along nicely, allowing for time to visit with neighbors while sliding trays along.
This particular day two women got to talking and laughing with each other so freely that when they got to the cashier she naturally assumed they were together and rang them up accordingly. When the first woman got the total, the mistake was realized and laughed over some more. She said sure, I’ll buy lunch for us both! After a show of protest, the second woman then said, alright, then I’ll buy lunch for the woman behind me! The gaiety spread down the serving line. Six people in turn said thank you, and bought lunch for the person behind them. The last guy in this happy line turned and looked at the family of five behind him. They smiled at him a touch knowingly. He grinned back and, stuffing a healthy contribution into the tip jar, said, sorry, folks, the buck stops here. He went off with his salad and tea. The family laughed. Those in line sat with each other and laughed some more. This little display of humor and generoucity hung over that whole lunch hour like an angel of public comity.
Bill,
Thank you for sharing. I loved the details of the restaurant and the common goodness of the clientele. I would have loved to have eaten there. Nothing says joy like an extra helping of humanity and brotherhood. Did you serve Smithfield ham and bean soup with cornbread? Just tell me yes, so I can taste . . . and dream.
Don
We had a large vat of Senate Bean Soup with ham right by the front door so you could strip down and wallow in it. Got pretty tasty by around 4PM. Cornbread was of course a side.
Bill,
Sorry I missed it. I haven’t wallowed in years. I used to be able to nap at almost any time. Sometimes I’d just drop off in mid-wallow . . . so my friends started calling me The Legend of Sleepy Wallow . . . I kinda lost my head.
Don
Do you know the Southernism: Happy as a dead pig in the sunshine— a favorite of my mother’s.
Bill,
Well, dill my pickle . . . I like that one. Thanks for the afternoon chuckle!!!
Don
I always wondered who I bought that popcorn for at K-Mart. Glad your children enjoyed it. I suspect you tasted it to check the quality before you gave them any.
Dear Klacity,
Thanks for the afternoon chuckle. I’m sure the kids enjoyed the popcorn tasted or not. Personally I like the addition of real butter . . . like the serve at the Grand Cinema in downtown Tacoma. Some friends will stop in there for a bag of popcorn and not buy a ticket for the show.
I hope you enjoyed the article. As my wife wrote, it was a kindness she was thankful for.
Thank you for reading and for commenting.
Don
p.s. Thanks for the popcorn, too.
D