Featured Image Credit: @bug_boys / TikTok
Topics: TikTok, Social Media, US News, Viral, Money
Poppy Bilderbeck
Topics: TikTok, Social Media, US News, Viral, Money
People are flooding to social media to celebrate the fundraising efforts to help an elderly Walmart employee retire.
After seeing another person raise a hefty amount to help an elderly Walmart employee retire, one TikToker was inspired to do the same for an 82-year-old worker named Butch.
Prepare to feel all warm and fuzzy inside:
Taking to the store, the TikToker recorded a video of Butch, telling him of the fundraising efforts which have recently been taking place online for other elderly people working at Walmart.
One GoFundMe effort by another TikToker raised $100,000 for one elderly woman, before they went on to raise over $50,000 in four days for another 82-year-old.
Advert
Butch - who also served 10 years in the Navy - commented: "Well I'll be damned."
The TikToker then responded: "Now imagine someone kind of raised that money for you."
And it turns out, Butch didn't have to just 'imagine' having such an impressive sum raised for him, as the TikToker's videos and setting up of a GoFundMe page has led to a whopping $97,100 of the $100,000 goal being raised in two days (at the time of writing) - $50,000 having been raised in under just 24 hours.
The GoFundMe page - started by Rory McCarty - reads: "I was shopping at Walmart the other day, and was waited on by an 82yr old man named Butch.
"As a business owner and knowing how hard it's been to try to find good help for my business. I was astounded seeing this little older man still grinding. Working eight to nine hour shifts.
"Recently seeing a GoFundMe for a 82 yr old lady working at Walmart on TikTok, and seeing they raised money for her to retire for good.
"I wanted to help this Navy Veteran to live the remainder of his years traveling to see his kids in Florida. Get him off his feet for eight hrs at a time. And do the things he would love to do that he may not be able to for financial reasons.
"Every penny will go to Butch. I will be hand delivering Warren Marion (Butch) a cashier check for the full amount given after the GoFundMe fee is subtracted."
People have since flooded to the TikTok in support of the fundraising efforts - the third of which has taken place to help elderly Walmart employees recently, with #TikTokWalmartRetiree now trending on the platform.
One said: "Oh my God he is so pure. We need to help him."
"Even if you donate 5 dollars..every penny counts!!! this man deserves to not have to work at his age...," another wrote.
A third commented: "10yrs of service for this country that man should be enjoying life."
A final said: "Thank you soooo much for doing this for him."
In a series of updates, Butch can be seen thanking everyone for donating to the fundraiser and hugging McCarty.
"How did I get so lucky?" the Walmart employee tells the TikToker.
Butch then promises McCarty to 'get off his feet' after revealing he's been working since the age of 11.
When asked what he plans on doing with the fundraising money, Butch resolved: "I'd see my kids, I'd do some work around the house, I would enjoy the last 10 or 12 years I've got."