Spreading Back-to-School Joy to 129 Families
Pay Away the Layaway recently surprised 129 families at Citi Trends stores in Athens, GA; Pittsburgh, PA; Fort Myers, FL; and Batesville, MS.
One grateful recipient shared, “I want to express my deep gratitude for your generosity in paying my layaway at Citi Trends in Fort Myers, FL. I am currently facing financial difficulties, and this unexpected blessing truly made my day. Thank you for your kindness; I pray that God continues to bless you. The world is a better place with people like you making a difference.” Other grateful recipients shared videos expressing their gratitude.
These surprise layaway payoffs were made possible by the generosity of Pay Away supporters, and a donation from CAA Sports Coaching. Thanks to this support, Pay Away was able to help children feel confident, prepared, and empowered with the clothing and supplies they needed for a successful start to their school year.
For over 10 years, Pay Away’s mission has been to inspire hope and spread kindness by surprising families across the country with layaway payoffs. As we approach the holiday season, our goal is to impact even more children and families.
Help us spread more joy this year at payaway.org/give.
https://youtu.be/bA1JrPBpSjY
Easing the Back-to-School Burden: the Role of Layaway
For many parents and caregivers, back-to-school brings both excitement and stress. The anticipation of a new school year is often overshadowed by the financial burden of purchasing necessary supplies. Many parents and caregivers turn to back-to-school layaway programs to ease the burden.
Recent data indicates that families expect to spend an average of $890 on back-to-school items. This figure includes the cost of clothing, shoes, backpacks, supplies, and essential electronics like laptops and tablets. Amid reports that 67% of families have observed higher prices on these items, this high cost significantly strains household budgets.
Adding to the financial pressure, 56% of families start shopping by early July. This early start often stems from the need to spread out costs and take advantage of early discounts. For parents and caregivers, especially those with tight budgets, layaway programs become crucial financial tools. Layaway allows families to pay for items over time, making it easier to manage the high cost of back-to-school shopping. Unlike credit cards, layaway programs typically do not charge interest, making them more affordable.
Pay Away the Layaway believes that every student should feel confident, prepared, and empowered with the supplies they need to succeed in school. By helping pay off layaway balances, Pay Away ensures more students start the school year with the tools they need to thrive.
Support during this season is crucial. School supplies are not just about pencils and notebooks; they represent a student's readiness to learn. Without necessary supplies, students may feel unprepared, in turn impacting their confidence and academic performance.
By addressing the financial challenges of back-to-school shopping through layaway support, we create a more equitable and supportive environment for all students. Help us to ensure every student has the opportunity to feel confident, prepared, and empowered this school year by making a donation at payaway.org/give.
Pay Away the Layaway Spread Joy to 1,468 Families in 2023
Last year Pay Away the Layaway brought joy to families across the US. From providing children the supplies and clothing they needed to start their school year, to ensuring families had the holiday they hoped for, generous supporters played a part in spreading kindness to 1,468 families in 2023.
2023 was a special year! The Today Show featured Pay Away paying off 210 layaways in Brooklyn, NY, an amazing opportunity and platform to share our mission of spreading hope and inspiring kindness.
As children and families prepared to return to school, Pay Away paid off layaway balances for 360 families at Burlington stores, Citi Trends stores, and at Army and Air Force bases. We were reminded of the profound impact of kindness in Cranston, RI.
Pay Away also continued to attract support from NFL athletes including Darius Slayton and Kayvon Thibodeaux of the New York Giants, Pharoah Brown of the New England Patriots, Jermaine Johnson of the New York Jets, and Cornell Powell of the Kansas City Chiefs. NFL athletes from CAA Sports joined together to support 92 military families, including those impacted by a tornado at Fort Campbell in Kentucky.
As we look towards back to school and the holidays this year, we hope to impact even more children and families.
You can help Pay Away support families in 2024 by making a donation at payaway.org/give
https://twitter.com/PayAwayLayaway/status/1705341214822691065