Anonymous Donors Spread Cheer at Shores Kmart

Shoppers at the St. Clair Shores have been part of a national trend of anonymous donors purchasing items at the discount store.

During the past week a mystery shoppper purchased a Christmas tree for a customer. A second donor paid for one customer's layaway purchases. 

"It's really a great human interest story," said Todd Grossmann, store manager, who has no idea who the mystery shoppers were this past week.

The Detroit Free Press reported today that anonymous donors are paying off strangers' layaway accounts and buying the Christmas gifts other families couldn't afford, especially toys and children's clothes.

Grossman said earlier this week a mother and son were shopping for a Christmas tree, and selected a display model which was the the last remaining tree of a certain style.

While store personnel attempted to find an unopened tree at a different store, the family decided to purchase the one in the store.

"I could see the boys eyes get real big as he imagined the presents under the tree," Grossman said.

As the mother and son waited to buy the tree, a stranger handed her a $100 bill to purchase the Christmas tree.

Store personnel also told Grossmann that a young man and woman recently came into the store layaway area and asked for a list that included toys. The couple paid a majority of the balance and left.

"It's a mystery," Grossman said the good Samaritans.