Surprise Squad gives shoppers gift cards ahead of Christmas, Hanukkah

PHOENIX (AZFamily) — With Christmas and Hanukkah right around the corner, the Arizona’s Family Surprise Squad wanted to make the season brighter for some lucky shoppers.

Ian Schwartz and the crew went to the Fry’s Food Store near 7th Street and Hatcher Road with a handful of gift cards to give away.

“You know how it goes,” Schwartz told the camera. “We just walk up to people randomly and give them a great surprise.”

He first spotted a mother and son shopping in the produce section. When mom saw the camera headed her way, she ducked out of view. But her son spoke with Ian.

“I’m here to give you $200 for some shopping, courtesy of your Valley Toyota Dealers,” Schwartz said to Ian, then asked him what he was going to spend it on.

He replied with a wry smile, saying it was only for him to know.

Schwartz then made his way down an aisle and found a woman on the clock taking inventory of the items on the shelves. She told him she had done a little Christmas shopping but added it’s been tough because many things are still so expensive. Schwartz brightened her day by handing her one of the gift cards.

The next person Ian came across was a man shopping for tortillas for an Instacart customer. He said he worked nights as a security guard, and as soon as that job ends for the day, he does this work as a side hustle.

Ian asked if a gift card would help him out. “It sure will,” the man said with a laugh.

He told Ian he would use the money to pay some bills and spend what was left on his children.

As the segment started to wrap up, Schwartz found a man looking at the meats in the butcher department. Like the others, he was very grateful for the gift card.

But even after the televised portion of the Surprise Squad ended, the surprises weren’t over.

As Schwartz and the crew prepared to leave the store, a man who had been watching the segment from home entered the store and greeted the squad. He asked about the gift cards, and as luck would have it, Ian had one left over.

He gave it to the happy viewer, proving that some surprises don’t always make it on television.

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