As much as I love this story, it’s still heartbreaking that it was even necessary.
Our veterans give their lives to protect our country and our freedom, and when they return home, I don’t think there’s any argument that we don’t do enough to care for those who served.
A 90-year-old veteran named Donald recently rose to fame on TikTok after an employee at a pawn shop in Manchester, New Hampshire, posted a plea for help. As the employee, named Jenelle, explained, Donald was struggling to pay his rent and care for his wife, who was recently diagnosed with dementia.
Jenelle wanted to help Donald find an affordable place to rent and also started a GoFundMe page to help him with his expenses.
Donald was forced to pawn his jewelry to pay his bills, and a few weeks later he returned to the pawn shop with more jewelry that he wanted to sell to pay off his debt. But instead, Jenelle had a surprise for him: an envelope with $1,300 in cash.
Donald initially insisted he couldn’t accept the money, but Jenelle promised him that the church would do it for him. And it was almost enough to pay his $1,380 bill that he needed to get his jewelry back.
@jenellemarie0212 #veteran #actofkindness #usgoldandpawn #manchesternh #fypage #viral #feelgoodvideo ♬ Original sound – Jenellemarie0212
But even though Donald was overwhelmed by this gift, he could never have imagined what would happen next.
After the video of the heartwarming interaction went viral, donations poured in on GoFundMe from people wanting to help. The total currently stands at over $300,000 and donations are still coming in. And according to Jenelle, Donald couldn’t believe it:
“When he came by yesterday, the GoFundMe amount was $164,000. And when I told him the amount, we were both ecstatic. It was a really beautiful and emotional moment that I will never forget. He generously said he could never thank us and the people who donated enough. He said he didn’t deserve it. He was ‘just an ordinary man’ but we explained to him that he is so much more than that!”
Donald is understandably not a fan of all the attention, but Jenelle posted a video in which the hero thanks everyone who donated:
“I’m not quite sure I know what to say or how to say it, except that I am deeply grateful for everything you have done for me.”
@jenellemarie0212 #donaldtheveteran #manchesternh #usgoldandpawn #gofundme #manchesternh ♬ Original sound – Jenellemarie0212
Hopefully Donald can live the rest of his life without having to worry about how he’s going to pay his bills. That’s the least our veterans deserve – although they deserve so much more.
