Michigan Grocery Worker Receives $1.7M From Online Fundraiser
Veteran Grocery Worker Receives $1.7 Million in Brighton
On Friday in Brighton, Michigan, 88-year-old grocery worker Ed Bambas received an oversized check for $1.7 million at a Meijer store following an online fundraising campaign.
Social Media Creator Launches Fundraiser
The fundraising effort was organized by 22-year-old Australian social media creator Sam Weidenhofer, who is from Melbourne, Australia. Weidenhofer met Bambas about two weeks earlier at the Meijer store in Brighton, located in southeastern Michigan, while visiting the United States.
During that visit, Weidenhofer recorded a TikTok video featuring Bambas for his 7.7 million followers on the platform. In the video, Bambas, a General Motors retiree, explained that he continued working as he neared age 90 because he did not have enough income following the death of his wife Joan in 2018 after a chronic illness.
GoFundMe Campaign Draws Thousands of Donors
After sharing Bambas’ story, Weidenhofer launched an online GoFundMe campaign and urged people to contribute to support the Michigan worker. He described Bambas’ situation as a reminder that many seniors, including veterans, face significant challenges in meeting their basic needs. Weidenhofer has more than 10 million followers across various social media platforms.
The response to the campaign resulted in donations from more than 15,000 people. Individual contributions ranged from $10 to $10,000. The total raised enabled the presentation of the $1.7 million check to Bambas in Brighton.
Impact on Bambas and His Future Plans
Weidenhofer stated that the funds will allow Bambas to pay off $225,000 in debt. He said that any remaining money will be at Bambas’ sole discretion to use as he chooses.
Bambas, who began working at the Meijer store at age 82, told reporters that he has spent years talking with customers in his cashier line, which helped him cope with the loss of his wife. He said he intends to travel to visit his brother and resume playing golf. He also stated that he expects to continue working at the store for another month or two before stopping.
Customer Helped Reconnect Organizer and Cashier
Former regular customer Lexi Wallace, 26, played a role in connecting Weidenhofer with Bambas. After moving away, she went to Weidenhofer’s Facebook page and encouraged him to find the cashier she remembered from the Brighton Meijer store. Wallace said she had known him only as “Bob” and that he had never corrected her about his name.
Bambas described the fundraising outcome as a burden in jest, saying he now feels the need to thank everyone who contributed. Weidenhofer characterized the result of the campaign and the presentation of the funds as feeling like a dream.