Ed Bamber, an 88-year-old American veteran, experienced the generous and caring side of society after having to work into his later years just to survive.
Bamber’s harrowing story was brought to light by Samuel Weidenhofer, a content creator specializing in philanthropy who has more than 2.3 million followers on Instagram.
Thanks to Mr. Weidenhofer, the nation now knows that Mr. Bamber, an Army veteran, works eight hours a day, five days a week, at a Detroit supermarket. “He worked hard all his life and never received the pension he received after his wife died many years ago,” Weidenhofer explained. The content creator shared that despite his hardships, “Ed shows up every day with quiet dignity, strength, and perseverance. His story is a harsh reminder that many older adults, especially veterans, face incredible challenges to survive.”
Fundraising activities that change lives
Weidenhofer has started a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for Ed. With the help of anonymous donors from around the world, Weidenhofer raised an incredible $1.77 million (1.644 million euros) for veterans. Video captured the emotional moment an elderly man received the check. “I want to make it clear that this is one of the largest individual fundraisers in GoFundMe history,” Weidenhofer said in the video. “You can retire if you want, because we raised $1.77 million for you.” Bamber was so overcome with emotion that she burst into tears when she received the check, and then shared a tearful hug with Weidenhofer. “Words cannot express how grateful I am to everyone,” Bamber said.
The influencer then wrote, “He cried. We cried. And his life was changed forever. Thank you to everyone who made this miracle possible. This is so much bigger than Ed. This is proof that humanity is still beautiful…”
Credit: Credit: Itssozer – Instagram
Pension lost due to bankruptcy
Despite officially retiring in 1999, Bamber, a military veteran, began to struggle financially. His pension was terminated in 2012 when General Motors went bankrupt. Mr Bamber’s wife died seven years ago and she was ill when he lost his pension.
“I was also in the Army in 1996,” Bamber once explained. “The most painful moment was when my wife became seriously ill. All but $10,000 of her pension, medical insurance and life insurance were taken away.”
