Secret Santa trend spreads across US

PLAINFIELD TONWSHIP, Mich. - For nearly a week, customers of the Kmart on Plainfield Avenue continue to play secret Santa by paying off complete strangers' layaway bills. Now, the trend has become a national movement.

Saturday, Kmart Assistant Manager Carol Vernon got a call from a manager in California. She was told someone saw the original story on a national website and walked into a West Coast Kmart to pay off $5,000 worth of layaway tabs.

"People reaching out to people this time of year is awesome," said Vernon, who has worked for Kmart for 35 years. "I think it brings excitement and happiness to everybody."

On Tuesday, a woman paid off three layaway bills totaling about $500. She picked the recipients randomly, her only requirement was that toys were in the order. On Wednesday, another anonymous giver spent $2,000 paying off 13 more layaway bills. On Thursday, a secret Santa paid off about $1,000 in layaway bills.

Since then, several others have anonymously paid off the bills of people at stores in West Michigan.

24 Hour News 8 caught Eric Crandle and his son paying it forward Saturday. For them, giving is personal.

"Our granddaughter was diagnosed with cancer and the people that have outreached and helped us has been overwhelming," Crandle, Sr. said. "So to help others is the thing to do."

"It's just amazing what people have done these last few weeks for my niece," Crandle, Jr. said. "What people have done is incredible. complete strangers all over the world."