An elderly army veteran will finally be able to retire after people online rallied together to raise over a $1 million for him.
The internet has come through for Ed Bambas, an 88-year-old army veteran who lost his pension in 2012, after the company he’d previously worked for went bankrupt.
Around the time he lost his pension his wife, who passed away seven years ago, got sick and Ed had to sell their home to make ends meet and pay for the care she needed. He lost his health insurance when he lost his pension as well.
Since his wife’s passing, Ed has had to return to work so that he can afford to live. He works eight hour shifts, five days at a week at a supermarket 45 miles west of Detroit.
Ed was nominated by someone to influencer Samuel Weidenhofer who spreads positivity online. Samuel then jetted from Australia to Michigan and teamed up with Metro Detroit-based influencer Mike McKinstry to track down Ed.
They successfully did so and Samuel filmed a tear-jerking interaction with Ed at the store he worked at where he explained his circumstances and why he still worked at 88 years old.
Samuel gave Ed a $400 cash tip there and then but also set up a GoFundMe online for people to donate to so that Ed could finally retire.
At the time of writing, a staggering $1.5 million has been raised for the elderly army vet in just a couple of days. One kind-hearted individual donated $10,000 on the page.
Ed has since been interviewed by WXYZ where he discussed his newfound viral fame.
“It came out of the clear blue — I really truly mean that,” he said of the attention he’s received.
Ed teared up while talking about his late wife who passed 7 years ago (WXYZ)
Since he’s 88, understandably, Ed isn’t on TikTok himself. “I’ve never been on those programs (TikTok and Instagram),” he shared, adding: “I don’t own one of those fancy cellphones. In fact, I still have a flip phone just to talk to people.”
Ed went on to talk about his late wife and became visibly emotional while doing so.
He told the WXYZ reporter: “I try to go to the gravesite every day. It helps me get through my day.”
Samuel also spoke to the news outlet and shared why he decided to track down Ed and the huge amount that’s already been raised.
“I just wanted to give him a chance to retire, you know? At least have some comfort,” Samuel said.
“At first, I thought maybe there would be a little bit of support, but to see how much? It’s record breaking.”
