Lancaster woman gets Christmas surprise at Walmart

LANCASTER, Calif. (KABC) -- Ruth Alcarez said she only had $40 in her pocket when she was in the layaway line at the Lancaster Walmart on Monday.

She had an Xbox and two games on layaway for her grandson and the balance of $431 was due.

But as she got to the register, she soon learned she was going to have a very merry Christmas.

"The cashier asked us if we knew what a Christmas angel was. I was thinking for the top of the Christmas tree and she says, 'This is your Christmas angel right here and I want you to meet her,'" Alcarez said.

Alcarez is one of many people across the country helped by so-called "Layaway Angels" - people who pay off layaway bills for unsuspecting customers in need.

"I don't even know where she lives or anything," Alcarez said. "I can't believe it...my grand kids are going to be so grateful and I'm very grateful for her and everything."

Alcarez's grandson, Richard Cordoba, was indeed grateful.

"She could have spent that extra $400 on herself, on her family, but instead she tried helping out the community and making everybody better," he said.

What happened to Alcarez also left quite an impression on her granddaughter, Sofia Cordoba.

"I didn't think anyone would do this because they would be concerned about themselves, but then now random people will do this so it makes me happy to see that, and then maybe when I grow up and have a lot of money I'll do that for other people," she said.