The family of five had fallen on hard times and didn't know they were going to receive the gift card. They now have a $500 gift certificate to any store in the mall.
"Thank you so much. We really appreciate everything," said recipient Dina Eidinger.
"I've had a lot of job leads and they pan out to be nothing," said Steve Eidinger. "I've been out of work for three years. I'm in the Sheet Metal Union, but I'm number 535 on the out-of-work list and I just have been having a rough time finding work to provide for my family. You don't know how grateful I am for this."
Steve and Dina Eidinger, along with their three boys, hit the shops for a rare chance to just buy what they wanted.
"What little money we have coming in goes to get what they need. Now they can get what they want," said Steve Eidinger.
"It feels good to have money and not worry about anything else at the moment, just on yourself and what they want- the family," said Raymond Eidinger.
But it was also a chance to pay it forward and share the gift. Each boy bought a toy for Spark of Love, a charity that collects toys for needy children during the holidays.
But the number one priority on their parents' list was bunk beds for the two youngest sons. Los Cerritos Center stepped forward to surprise the family with another parting gift, an additional $500.
Sometimes a parent's best gift is the smiles on their kid's faces.
