The true spirit of the holiday season is to spread hope and kindness. One of the best ways to participate is to give to those in need. Many of our fellow military service members and veterans find this time of year to be a financial burden. The cost of purchasing gifts for loved ones and holiday travel can be quite expensive. That's where Pay Away the Layaway and the Exchange come in.

Pay Away the Layaway is a nonprofit organization who has partnered with Good Morning America to bring a smile to families this holiday season. They have put together a program to collect donations of funds that will be used to pay the layaway balances at retailers such as Burlington, Walmart, Kmart, Army & Air Force Exchange and Navy Exchange.

On Dec. 20, Pay Away the Layaway surprised three unsuspecting Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) families by paying their layaway balances in full. The Daniels, Ervie, and McIntire families were asked to come in. Upon arrival, they were greeted by team members from the Exchange and three shopping carts with their names covered in wrapping paper. As they stood in front of a banner that read "Merry Christmas to our Secret Santa Families," they were notified that their layaway balances had been paid in full, to the sum of $1,070. 

This goodwill cheer will help to alleviate the financial burden on these three families making this a Christmas that they will never forget.

"This allowed us to have the funds for a Christmas dinner, and take the family to Leavenworth over the weekend," said a grateful Cierra Ervie.

If you want to contribute to helping the next round of families, visit payawaythelayaway.org and make a donation.