HOUSTON – The holiday spirit is producing good Samaritans across the Houston area.
Take for instance the story of Fort Bend County's Susanne Steiger. She just picked up Christmas presents for her granddaughter and didn't have to pay a thing to finish the purchase. When she walked into the Walmart at Highway 6 and Highway 90 in Sugar Land on Friday, the clerks had good news.
"I had my credit card out ready to pay and they said a good Samaritan had paid my bill," Steiger said.
Store managers confirm a good Samaritan came in this week with $600 in cash and randomly picked six layaway accounts to pay in full.
"It's very nice especially at Christmas time," Steiger said. "It gives me great joy."
Holiday joy is spreading to other parts of the Houston area.
Jennifer Tantoco's 15-month-old son is healing from an eye infection thanks to another good Samaritan in Cinco Ranch. Tantoco had her son at a Target pharmacy when she was told she'd have to pay nearly $150 for the prescription -- money she didn't have available. A man who overheard the conversation stepped right up and paid the bill in full.
"I was crying and saying 'thank you' and the pharmacist was crying," Tantoco said. "I mean everybody was just really touched by his generosity because he just seemed to really want to help."
The stranger's generosity has now spurred Tantoco to lend a helping hand.
"He helped me with something that's important and that's my kids," she said. "So I would like to pay it forward and find out what's important to him and know how I can help him."