In brief
Ed Bambas, an 88-year-old grocery worker, was moved to tears when he received a $1.7 million check from a crowdfunding campaign launched by Sam Weidenhofer after a TikTok video highlighted his struggles as a senior, particularly after losing his wife. Over 15,000 donors contributed to help him secure a comfortable future, enabling him to pay off debts and potentially travel.
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 on Friday, a result of a remarkable fundraising campaign led by a young Australian man with an extraordinary social media following.
“No, no,” said Bambas, wiping tears from his eyes in front of reporters. “Thank you. Oh, my God.”
Sam Weidenhofer, 22, used his social media influence to spread kindness and financial support during his trip to the U.S.
He met Bambas at a Meijer store in Brighton about two weeks ago and recorded a TikTok video showcasing the General Motors retiree's story, in which he expressed the financial difficulties he faced following the loss of his wife, Joan, due to a chronic illness in 2018.
“I don’t have enough income,” Bambas stated in the video. Weidenhofer subsequently launched a GoFundMe page to raise funds for him.
“His story is a stark reminder that too many seniors, especially veterans, face incredible challenges just to survive,” Weidenhofer commented, who has more than 10 million followers across his platforms.
The fundraising response was overwhelming: more than 15,000 individuals contributed donations ranging from $10 to $10,000.
Bambas humorously remarked, “It means a terrible burden... I have to find everybody and say, ‘thank you.’”
He had started working at Meijer at age 82 to find a sense of purpose. “I talk to everybody that came through my cashier line because it helped me not become despondent on her loss... I shared a piece of my life story,” he explained.
Lexi Wallace, a former customer, encouraged Weidenhofer to connect with Bambas after being touched by his spirit.
With the donation, Weidenhofer mentioned that Bambas would be able to pay off significant debt. He emphasized that the remaining money's usage was entirely at Bambas' discretion.
“It feels like a dream,” said Weidenhofer.
Bambas expressed interest in visiting his brother and picking up golf again, though he plans to continue working for a little while longer. “I’ll probably work another month or two and shut things down,” he concluded.
