An army veteran who spent his whole life working hard is now seeing how far kindness can go, after the world came together to help him finally step into the retirement he deserved.
At 88 years old, Ed Bambas had been working full-time as a cashier at a Meijer grocery store in Brighton, Michigan, because he no longer had sufficient income to support himself.
His quiet struggle gained recognition online, and people responded with an outpouring of kindness that continues to transform his life.
The army veteran’s loss that changed everything
Before life took a difficult turn, Ed had been enjoying the retirement he earned after decades of work. But in 2012, everything fell apart.
His pension from General Motors disappeared during the company’s bankruptcy, leaving him without the financial support he depended on.
“I retired from General Motors in ’99. In 2012, they went bankrupt, and they took my pension away from me,” he said during a conversation with Australian social media influencer Samuel Weidenhofer.
The loss of his pension came during the same period when his wife, Joan, became very sick. Losing the pension also meant losing the health coverage he and his wife badly needed.
“The thing that hurt me the most was when my wife was really sick and when they took the pension, they also took the healthcare coverage and all but $10,000 of my life insurance,” he said, sharing one of the most painful moments of his life.
As medical debt grew, Ed had no choice but to sell his home and property to make ends meet. Joan, his wife of more than 50 years, passed away seven years ago, leaving him with both emotional and financial pain.
Why the army veteran kept working at 88
After his wife’s death, Ed faced a new level of hardship. His income was no longer enough to cover rent and bills.
He explained the challenge clearly: “Once my wife died, I didn’t have enough income to pay for this place or all the other bills I had accumulated because of my wife’s illness.”
Because he had no retirement support and no savings left, he had to return to work. He eventually became a cashier at the Meijer store about 45 miles west of Detroit.
Even at 88, he stood on his feet for long hours because he felt he had no other choice.
He told WXYZ that he believed he had to keep going and was grateful his body allowed him to work full shifts.
A single act of kindness that sparked a worldwide movement
Everything changed when Samuel met Ed at his register.
Samuel Weidenhofer, a mental health advocate and creator from Melbourne, has built a global community by sharing simple acts of compassion.
Many people know him as a “kindness influencer” because his videos often show him reaching out to those who are going through hard moments.
His Instagram account, @itssozer, now connects with more than 2.3 million followers, while his TikTok presence has grown to over 7.7 million.
So when Samuel heard even a small part of Ed’s story, he felt instantly moved to respond. He began by giving Ed a $400 tip.
However, after understanding the seriousness of Ed’s situation, he launched a GoFundMe campaign to support the veteran’s retirement needs.
The response was immediate and overwhelming. As the story spread, thousands of people donated, demonstrating how kindness can transform a single moment into a movement.
As of writing, the fundraiser has collected more than $1.4 million.
When Ed was told about the generosity, he said it felt like it “came out of the clear blue,” showing how unexpected the moment was for him.
Some donations stood out, including a $10,000 contribution from someone listed as “William Ackman.”
It was not confirmed if it was the well-known hedge fund manager Bill Ackman, but the donation quickly caught attention. Celebrities also reacted.
Singer Charlie Puth commented on TikTok, “Commenting to spread this video. I also donated to you sir.”
Country singer Russell Dickerson also shared his support.
A future filled with kindness and long-awaited retirement
On the GoFundMe page, Samuel wrote about Ed’s strength and quiet dignity, stating that the veteran showed resilience every day despite facing numerous challenges.
Samuel also explained that the purpose of the fundraiser was to help Ed finally enjoy retirement without fear, stress, or financial struggle.
Even though millions of people have watched the video online, Ed remains unaware of his viral fame.
He said, “I’ve never been on those programs. I don’t own one of those fancy cellphones. In fact, I still have a flip phone just to talk to people.”
Samuel is waiting to share the final total with him once the fundraiser closes and a secure trust or account is set up to protect Ed’s future.
Soon, the army veteran will learn how far kindness can reach—and how many people want to help him step into the retirement he has waited for all these years.
Watch the moment the army veteran meets Samuel at the register and see his kindness shine through in this touching video.
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