AMAZING! 88-Year-Old Vet Goes Viral For Having To Work At A Supermarket After Losing His Pension, Fundraiser Raises Over A Million Dollars So He Can Quit

BRIGHTON, Mich. (WXYZ) — An 88-year-old veteran working as a cashier at a Michigan Meijer store has become an unlikely internet sensation after his story touched millions of people worldwide, leading to a fundraising campaign to help him retire for good.

Ed Bambas works at the Meijer in Brighton, a job he took after being retired for more than a decade to help pay his bills. His story caught the attention of social media influencers who are now helping spread awareness about his situation.

A video of Bambas working at his job has been viewed by nearly 4 million people on TikTok, though he hasn't seen it on the platform himself.

"I've never been on those programs (TikTok and Instagram). I don't own one of those fancy cellphones. In fact, I still have a flip phone just to talk to people," Bambas said.

His charm contributed to the video going viral, but his story is what truly resonated with viewers. Bambas retired from General Motors in 1999 and expected to live in comfort together with his wife Joan.

But as a former salaried employee at GM, Bambas says he lost his pension in 2012 when the company went bankrupt. Then his wife became ill and Bambas became her full-time caretaker. She died 7 years ago, but the long illness accumulated significant medical bills.

With debt to pay and his pension gone, Bambas knew he had no other option but returning to work, first at an Ace Hardware then as a cashier at Meijer.

The video has led to the creation of an online fundraiser, with donations pouring in from around the world. The goal is to help Bambas retire for good. He and his wife Joan were married for over 50 years and had two children. In retirement, he plans to spend more time with those he loves.

The fundraiser can be found here, it's over 1.1 million dollars already!

https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-88-year-old-veteran-ed-to-live-with-comfort