NFL Football Star Paid-Off ALL Remaining Layaway Balances for Military Families in 2021
Christian McCaffrey (right) poses with an Air Force service member in celebration of the Christian McCaffrey Foundation: 22 and Troops project announcement.
As we celebrate 10 years of spreading joy to families around the holiday season, we want to recognize some of the incredible impact we've had over the past decade with your support.
Last holiday season, Pay Away the Layaway partnered with Christian McCaffrey, running back for the Carolina Panthers, and the Christian McCaffrey Foundation to spread joy and kindness to our military families in the Carolinas.
With the ambitious goal of paying off ALL remaining layaway balances for military families in North and South Carolina, the NFL star worked with Pay Away the Layaway to make that dream come true.
“Our military members sacrifice so much everyday to protect the rest of us. We wanted to return the favor and show our appreciation for all that they do for our country,” McCaffrey stated. "We are extremely happy to do it, and so grateful for all of you guys who have served," he continued.
Thanks to McCaffrey’s generosity and passion for supporting our military members, 363 unsuspecting military families got a magical holiday surprise.
A total of 22 lucky service members received the incredible news via a Zoom call, where McCaffrey personally announced that this year they were all in for a special treat for their bravery and commitment to our country.
“Not only did we pay off all remaining layaway balances for the Army and Air Force Exchanges in the Carolinas, but we did the same for the Navy Exchange military members,” announced McCaffrey in the video. “And not only did we give the gift of joy to military families in North Carolina, South Carolina, but also in southern Virginia,” McCaffrey said.
Recipients began clapping in joy and raising their hands in celebration. They couldn’t thank him enough for this kind gesture.
Because of our amazing Layaway Angels like Christian McCaffrey, we are able to spread kindness and give the gift of joy to families all over the United States.
What is Layaway?
Layaway began during The Great Depression in the 1930s when many families did not have enough money to pay for gifts. Retailers, aware of the cash crunch, decided to let customers make cash payments in installments. The store would hold the items until all payments were made, at which time customers could take home their items. Millions of families used layaway every holiday until the 1980s and 90s when credit cards became more commonly used. Credit cards made it possible for families to take their purchases immediately and still pay for them over time.
The early 2000s recession brought layaway programs back when credit became less available for some families. Sears brought back their layaway program in 2008 and Toys ‘R’ Us started offering layaway on expensive items in 2009. Walmart temporarily jumped on board in 2011 with its renewed Holiday Layaway program in select stores. Other retailers like Best Buy, Burlington Stores, Kmart, Marshalls, Sears, T.J. Maxx, and Toys ‘R’ Us joined too.
Today, many families still use layaway programs during the holiday season.
Today's layaway programs are not always free to use. Many retailers require a 10 to 20% down payment on purchases and service fees (usually between $5 and $15) to cover the cost of storing items and processing multiple payments. If a family can't make the payments by the due date, a retailer may charge a cancellation fee, sometimes up to $100, and a restocking fee. The payment schedule is usually strict, and the deadlines to pay off a layaway are non-negotiable. For holiday layaways, the deadline date is typically the week before Christmas.
Pay Away the Layaway's mission is to inspire hope and spread kindness to families who need joy in their holidays. With the support of our generous donors and partners, Pay Away visits retailers around the country to surprise families and pay off their layaway balances. We have paid off layaways in all 50 states and on military bases overseas. We partner with retailers like Burlington Stores, the Army & Air Force Exchange, and Navy Exchange.
We hope you will join us to inspire hope and spread kindness to families this holiday season.