This New Jersey secret Santa made our hearts grow three sizes today

Black Friday can be a good time to make a sizeable dent in that holiday gift list. But, while people were scrambling to get their kid that perfect toy last week, one New Jersey dad walked into his local Toys “R” Us with bigger plans.

Identifying himself only as Charlie K., this real-life secret Santa side-stepped the Black Friday crowds and paid off over 60 layaway orders, amounting to more than 8,000 toys, worth US$10,000.

Layaway programs allow shoppers to put items on hold and pay off the cost in increments. Charlie told CBS News he decided to pay off the layaway orders that morning, in an effort to provide for the community that brings happiness to him and his family.

“I was thinking about shopping for my son,” he told CBS reporter Pat Gallen, who later posted Charlie's good deeds on Twitter. “I realized that some people are a little less fortunate. I realized this Toys “R” Us is closest to some of the more impoverished neighbourhoods, and I wanted to be able to help the people that help me the most.”

And Santa’s little helper didn’t stop there.

He also asked everyone in the store to pick out three toys for him to purchase for Toys for Tots. “The marines and Toys for Tots are one of the best organizations, and I don’t want to forget them,” he said.

Between the Black Friday mad dash and American Thanksgiving hangovers, it’s heartwarming to see someone so dedicated to Giving Tuesday.

Some of the lucky few, like Stephanie Dawson, heard about Charlie’s donation and rushed to the store to find he had paid off the seven orders she had on layaway for her grandchildren, worth $200.

Others like Jessica Jey, who came in to finish paying off a large box of toys for her kids, were completely blindsided.

“It’s definitely an early Christmas," she told CBS News. "And I want to say thank you to the gentleman that came in and donated. It’s like, the best feeling.”

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