Around the globe, the holiday season was made a little brighter for 154 military families whose NEX layaways were paid in full by Pay Away the Layaway, which paid off $27,295.93 of balances at seven NEX locations.

Customers in Naples, Italy; Pensacola, Florida; Guam; Fallon, Nevada; Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Kitsap-Bangor, Washington; and Norfolk, Virginia, received the unexpected good news that their children’s holiday gifts, which included toys and clothing, that were on layaway had been paid for. This is the fourth consecutive year Pay Away the Layaway has surprised military families.

At NEX Norfolk, Good Morning America broadcast live, surprising 62 military families with the news their layaways had been paid. “Having my layaway paid off means a lot to me,” said Aviation Boatswain’s Mate 3rd Class Jasmine Richardson. “It means we don’t have to not pay something else to pay for our gifts. I was very surprised when they said my layaway was paid off. I literally wanted to cry.” Richardson was at NEX Norfolk with her two-year-old daughter, ‘Aniel.

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For more news from Navy Exchange Service Command, visit www.navy.mil/.