SAN DIEGO — Families doing last minute back-to-school shopping were surprised with kindness while shopping at the Murphy Canyon Walmart in Serra Mesa on Monday.
The store manager surprised eight shoppers each with a $100 gift card.
“Here’s a $100 gift card to help your parents with back-to-school shopping,” said Bobbie Jo Lewis, Walmart store manager.
She surprised Ramona Cervantez with a $100 gift card while shopping for 4th grader Bruce Hermanson.
If you could grade excitement, Cervantes would get an A+.
“We’re all excited, and now I’m even super excited,” said Cervantes.
Taylor Stemler is filled with emotions. She was planning to buy the minimum for her daughter going into the 5th grade.
“It’s super kind, I’m a single parent so we were stressed about back-to-school shopping today so it will be a world of difference,” said Stemler.
This extra money is also being used to give back.
One mom who received a gift card used some of the money to buy supplies for teachers. Another woman is helping students who suffered during the January 2024 floods.
“I don’t have enough donations to cover this, and I was buying out of my own pocket,” said Valerie Brown.
She volunteers for the San Diego nonprofit Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (VOAD) and is helping to fill donated backpacks for students who are still impacted by the floods.
“We really want to make sure that we set them up for success,” said Brown.
First year college students like military veteran Joel Justiano received a $100 gift card, too.
“$100 will take me a long way, I appreciate it,” said Justiano.
He recently got out of the U.S. Marine Corps and is transitioning to Miramar College in hopes of becoming an air trafficker controller.
“I didn’t have to worry about that when I was in school because my parents did it but when you are shopping for yourself and you see all the prices you are like dang, it’s a lot,” said Justiano.
The National Retail Federation estimates families will spend more than $874.68 on back-to-school shopping. That’s up about two hundred dollars compared to five years ago.
“We use things from last year. If the back pack is in good shape we can use it again for next year,” said Kayleigh Slavin, mother.
A lesson in savings and a lesson in gratitude is what will make the grade.
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