Stranger Picks Up Family’s $211 Bill At Walmart Before Christmas
A stranger picked up a family’s $211 bill at Walmart a few day before Christmas, surprising a sick grandmother with the kind and anonymous gesture.
The incident happened on Friday night in Iowa when Ruby Modlin was doing some grocery shopping before Christmas, picking up cooking and other holiday foods with her grandchildren. As she shopped, she noticed that a man appeared to be following her around the store, KCCI reported.
She thought maybe the stranger was from her high school.
“I kept noticing this man, and I’d smile at him,” Modlin said.
But she was wrong; he was just a stranger who wanted to pick up her $211 bill. When Modlin made it to the register, he said he was paying.
“I said, ‘What?’ He said, ‘I’m paying for this.’ I said, ‘No, you’re not.’ He said, ‘Yes, I am,’ ” Modlin said.
As the stranger picked up the family’s $211 bill, he also acknowledged the season, telling her, “Merry Christmas!” The gesture was especially touching for Modlin, who has spent the past six months in and out of a hospital for liver failure.
The generous stranger then told her that he was in the store with his wife and daughter, who wanted to come in and do something nice for a stranger and picked Modlin out.
“I was still standing there in shock. We were too busy crying, and the register people were smiling,” Modlin said.
The story of the stranger who picks up the family’s $211 bill isn’t the only instance of anonymous gifts during the Christmas season. Yahoo! Finance wrote about a trend where anonymous donors known as “Layaway Angels” have gone to the layaway counters at stores to pay off the balance of strangers’ purchases.
Tags : anonymous gift, stranger pays family's $211 bill, stranger pays grocery bill, stranger picks up family's $211 bill
Posted: December 27, 2012
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Dec 27, 2012
These are the stories that should be on our news channels and in our newspapers.
Dec 27, 2012
I wish it would have happened at some local small business instead of Walmart.
Dec 27, 2012
I hope she doesn't ALWAYS have to "rely on the kindness of strangers," to quote a famous movie line. There's a special place in Heaven for people like that guy. I love this.
Dec 27, 2012
This is such a wonderful story. After all the stories about shootings, this gives me some hope for America.
Dec 27, 2012
"Have went to the layaway counters?" Even by today's standards of illiteracy, this is pretty shocking.
Dec 27, 2012
Pay it Forward, t's an awesome thing.
Dec 27, 2012
There are good people in this world. She just met them. There needs to be more of these people in this world they are just like angles.
Dec 27, 2012
This is what is great to hear. God bless the stranger…and the family he blessed.
Dec 27, 2012
Looks like they fixed it!
Dec 27, 2012
That is the true meaning of Christmas!
Dec 27, 2012
That was like what happen to my daughter in Kansas..she brought the girls to see Santa at Sam's club and when they were walking around the store, Santa came up and handed them a $50.00 gift card!
Dec 27, 2012
I agree Janet – We need more stories like these throughout the year too!!!
Dec 27, 2012
Alben, most shoppers that are able to shop at small businesses, do not need financial help, etc. Most likely the gentleman chose Walmart as for those with a low income, it is the only affordable store for them.
Dec 27, 2012
Marian Foore, that's one of the main problems with this country. No hope for small business. I bet if you compared some prices in small businesses with Walmart, you'd be surprised. I myself am willing to pay a bit more and go without some things to boycott Walmart ENTIRELY. Not to be cruel, but those people look very well fed. Maybe they should go without a few Walmart snacks, too.
Dec 27, 2012
I recently witnessed someone pay a 180 dollar bill at a grocery store. Who knows, it might happen more than we think!
Dec 27, 2012
That's wonderful! These people deserve more than an online report. But at least it did get to the internet.
Dec 27, 2012
Marian I agree with you and was thinking the same thing. While it is wonderful to support local business, some people are not able to. And it IS cruel to point out that someone could go without a few snacks. If you have to start a sentence with "not to be cruel" then maybe you shouldn't continue.
Dec 28, 2012
This is a nice heart warming story and instead of only happening in the holiday season (Christmas) it would be nice if it could happen all year round. Peace and Good Will To All is not something that should be confined to December, it should be how we treat each other all year. HAPPY HOLIDAYS ALL, hope you hae a great time.
Dec 28, 2012
26 random acts of kindness, I am on # 9, live long and prosper