Basketball Stars Pay Off Philly Walmart Layaways for Christmas

Christmas is less than two weeks away. There are lights adorning people’s homes, Christmas trees peeking out of front windows, and snow blanketing the ground in the City of Brotherly Love. It definitely is noticeable that the holidays are upon us. The nearness of the most magical time of the year has people feeling generous towards the people in their lives, and even strangers as well. It’s the reason we participate in Secret Santa exchanges at work or slip a few dollars into the Salvation Army kettle before entering the grocery store. For a pair of NBA basketball-playing twins, Christmas was an inspiration to do something special for a lot of people at once.

A pair of basketball star twins made the day of several Walmart customers yesterday when they paid off their layaway balances.

Marcus and Markieff Morris, of the Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards respectively, paid off $6,000 in outstanding layaway balances for customers at a Northeast Philadelphia Walmart yesterday. Having been raised by a single mom in Northeast Philly, the Morris brothers call the area home, even though they have played in the NBA for six years apiece. Yesterday was the final day to pay off layaway items, and customers at the Adams Avenue store learned while in line that the basketball stars has paid off their balances.

The brothers were not able to be present to deliver gifts to customers personally due to their traveling schedules, but they dispatched their mom Thomasine Morris, as well as other friends to be on hand to dole out the presents. As 6abc noted, “The twins could’ve picked anywhere to play Santa, with one playing in Washington D.C. and the other in Boston, but they picked this particular Walmart because it was close to home.” Mom Morris confirmed it: Philly is home.

“It’s a blessing to be able to give people anything,” Thomasine Morris told the news outlet.

And isn’t it true that it’s always more fun to give than to receive?