BRIGHTON, Mich. (AP) — Ed Bambas will soon ring up his last can of corn.
The 88-year-old Michigan grocery worker was handed an oversized check for $1.7 million Friday, the result of a remarkable fundraising campaign by a young Australian man with an exceptional following on social media.
“No, no,” Bambas said, wiping tears and sniffles in front of reporters. “Thank you. Oh, my God.”
Sam Weidenhofer, 22, is using his powerful platforms to spread kindness — and money — on a visit to the United States.
He met Bambas at a Meijer store in Brighton, Michigan, about two weeks ago and shared a TikTok video with his 7.7 million followers, where the General Motors retiree spoke about why he continues to work as he approaches 90, following the death of his wife, Joan, due to a chronic illness in 2018.
“I don’t have enough income,” Bambas said on the video.
Weidenhofer subsequently launched an online GoFundMe campaign encouraging people to assist Bambas. Over 15,000 individuals contributed, with donations ranging from $10 to $10,000.
“His story is a stark reminder that too many of our seniors, especially veterans, face incredible challenges just to survive,” Weidenhofer noted.
“It means a terrible burden,” Bambas jokingly remarked. “I have to find everybody and say, ‘thank you.’”
Bambas started working at Meijer at age 82. “I talk to everybody that came through my cashier line because it helped me not become despondent on her loss. ... I gave them a piece of my life story,” he shared, reflecting on his late wife.
Weidenhofer confirmed that Bambas will clear $225,000 in debt with the funds, and how he spends the rest is entirely up to him.
Bambas indicated his desire to travel to see his brother and return to golfing, but he doesn’t plan on quitting his cashier job just yet.
“I’ll probably work another month or two and shut things down,” he said.
