• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
People raise over $370k for 90-year-old Air Force veteran who was seen pawning jewelry to care for wife with dementia

Home> News

Published 17:25 12 Aug 2024 GMT+1

People raise over $370k for 90-year-old Air Force veteran who was seen pawning jewelry to care for wife with dementia

Now, this is a heartwarming story to put a smile on your face

Gerrard Kaonga

Gerrard Kaonga

The generosity of strangers was in full display as thousands of people dipped into their pockets to help an Air Force veteran struggling to care for his ill wife.

Now, the internet can be a very annoying place. It is full of nonsense, misinformation and quite possibly the worst hot takes ever imagined.

But now and again the internet is used to elevate and help people struggling, and to be frank, it really is beautiful.

We are all feeling a pinch on our wallets these days but one person who has really fallen on hard times was a 90-year-old Air Force veteran, Donald. (No, not the Presidential candidate, he isn't quite 90).

Advert

(Halfpoint Images / Getty Images)
(Halfpoint Images / Getty Images)

Donald happened to bump into a TikToker, Jenelle Marie, who helped highlight his story for her followers and people decided to do what they could to help.

They crossed paths when Marie saw Donald in a Gold and Pawn shop in Manchester, New Hampshire.


After chatting, the veteran revealed he was parting ways with his jewelry so he could pay his rent and care for his sick wife, who has recently been diagnosed with dementia. To add even more stress to this, their landlord has decided to raise the rent and Donald feared he and his wife could be evicted.

Advert

In a video posted to her page, Marie handed Donald an envelope filled with $1,300 from contributions between herself, her fiancé, and 25 other kind strangers who pitched in.

The air force vet was overwhelmed with gratitude and vowed to repay the favor with a dinner, when he could afford it.

But things only get better from here.

(Andrew Bret Wallis / Getty Images)
(Andrew Bret Wallis / Getty Images)

Advert

Following this, Marie started a GoFundMe campaign for him and it has blown up with over 13,000 donations.

As things stand, over $370,600 has been raised for Donald despite the goal only being $350,000.

So what is the money even for? Well Marie, commented that this money would just go towards helping the vet on his financial stresses, as well as help him find a new home.

On the campaign page she commented: “I'm currently looking to find him a new place to rent that is within his budget, but I was hoping I could fundraise some money to lessen his load of financial stress. Any amount would help and any resources for a one bedroom first floor apartment or house to rent would be much appreciated in the Manchester area."

Advert

In an update, on August 9, the TikToker thanked all those donated and said she and her fiancé would be sitting down with Donald and an attorney to get all the money in a safe account that he can access.

So, sounds like a happy ending all around.

Featured Image Credit: jenellemarie0212/TikTok

Topics: US News, Charity, TikTok, Money, GoFundMe

Gerrard Kaonga
Gerrard Kaonga

Gerrard is a Journalist at UNILAD and has dived headfirst into covering everything from breaking global stories to trending entertainment news. He has a bachelors in English Literature from Brunel University and has written across a number of different national and international publications. Most notably the Financial Times, Daily Express, Evening Standard and Newsweek.

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

7 hours ago
10 hours ago
12 hours ago
  • 7 hours ago

    Amazon Prime series with near-perfect RT score is labeled 'one of the best' by Stephen King

    The series starring Titus Welliver has been branded 'one of the most underrated TV shows'

    Film & TV
  • 10 hours ago

    People horrified after hearing tech billionaire Peter Thiel’s ‘sociopathic’ response about the future of humanity

    People have been creeped out by how he answered a simple question

    News
  • 10 hours ago

    Doctor issues warning over hidden symptoms of Lyme disease as tick bites near record highs in US states

    Parts of the US have seen a sudden uptick in tick bites

    News
  • 12 hours ago

    ‘World’s top couple’s therapist’ reveals the one surprising behavior in people’s relationships that ‘scares her’

    The psychologist said this one thing in other couples doesn't seem real

    News
  • What we know after 14-year-old boy is found dead 35 minutes after 'flirting with girl' online
  • Why Jeff Bezos gave US veteran who led Osama bin Laden raid $50,000,000
  • War veteran collapses after expert reveals how rare his old Rolex is on Antiques Roadshow
  • People left mindblown after finding out how much the Pentagon previously spent replacing 25 reheatable coffee cups for the Air Force