Man gives gift of love to those in need

NEWPORT NEWS, Va - Matt Welde does taxes for a living. His office is usually packed with people and paperwork.

Not this week though.

Instead of handing out checks, he's handing out smiles to people who thought they would never smile this time of year. The Instant Tax Service office on Jefferson Avenue is flooded with toys. Welde gives them to kids who need them most.

"You see the kid walk out of here with a smile, that does it for me."

While Welde does this project each year for free, there was one payment he did accept -- a one dollar bill that now sits framed on his office desk.

"When this guy was leaving, he gave me a dollar and I said, 'Sir it's free, what's the dollar for?' He said, 'I appreciate what you're doing, no one has ever done this for me before, and if I had more than a dollar, I'd give it to you,'"

More than a payment, Welde works for a payoff. None better than the reaction from Norfolk resident Dawn Barlow.

"Are you kidding me, oh my gosh," she said when a WAVY.com crew knocked on her door.

Barlow was diagnosed with bone cancer, that recently went into remission. Then, last week, someone broke into her home and stole the gifts she had ready for her three children. That's when WAVY.com told her about Welde's project. "Oh my gracious," she cried, 'I don't know what to say but  thank you. That is wonderful, I didn't expect this."

Barlow had counted her losses and was glad that no one was home during the break-in.

She's also a volunteer herself.

Never did she expect karma to return like this.

"Several instances, I was there for friends, and to have someone who doesn't even know us, step up and say hey we're going to help you out , is very heartwarming."

The relief was written on the face of her son Gray and daughter fittingly named Faith.

It's all thanks to a perfect stranger, a man who says he's no Santa.

Only a person with bags full of love.

"I feel like I'm just giving back what people gave to me, that's all it is."

Welde and his team will be gvining out more than 18,000 toys at two Instant Tax Service locations on Christmas Eve from 11a.m. until 2 p.m.

If you'd like to pick up toys, call 757-926-4678 or stop by either the Newport News or Norfolk locations below:

2402 Jefferson Ave (Newport News)

840 Church St. (Norfolk)