‘Oh, my God’ _ 88-year-old Michigan grocery cashier overwhelmed by sudden $1.7M gift

BRIGHTON, Mich. (AP) — Ed Bambas will soon be stealing his last can of popcorn.

An 88-year-old Michigan grocery store worker was presented with a massive check for $1.7 million on Friday. remarkable fundraising campaign By a young Australian man with an incredible following on social media.

“No, no,” Bambas said, wiping his tears and nose in front of reporters. “Thank you. Oh my God.”

Sam Weidenhofer, 22, is using his powerful platforms to spread kindness and money during his visit to the United States.

She met Bambas about two weeks ago at a Meijer store in Brighton, southeast Michigan, and recorded a TikTok video for her 7.7 million followers. In this video, the General Motors retiree explained why he’s still working as he approaches 90, following the death of his wife, Joan, following a chronic illness in 2018.

“I don’t have enough income,” Bambas said in the video.

Weidenhofer also started an online GoFundMe campaign, urging people to help Bambas.

“His story is a stark reminder that so many of our elders, especially our veterans, face incredible challenges to survive,” said Weidenhofer, who is from Melbourne, Australia, and has more than 10 million followers on various social media sites.

The response was stunning: More than 15,000 people participated with donations ranging from $10 to $10,000.

“That means a terrible burden,” Bambas jokingly told reporters. “I have to find everyone and say ‘thank you’.”

He said he started working at Meijer, a department store that carries groceries, clothing and other items, at age 82.

“I talk to everyone who comes to my cashier line because it helped me not despair over her loss. … I gave them a piece of my life story,” Bambas said, referring to his wife.

Lexi Wallace, 26, a regular customer before the move, went to Weidenhofer’s Facebook page and asked him to find Bambas.

“I thought his name was Bob. He never corrected me,” Wallace said. “I would love to go to Meijer to see it.”

Weidenhofer said that with an unexpected outcome, Bambas could clear his $225,000 debt. How he spends the remaining money is entirely up to him.

“This feels like a dream,” Weidenhofer said.

Bambas wants to go on a trip to see his brother and start playing golf again. As for work, she’s not quitting her job as a cashier just yet.

“I’ll probably work another month or two to close things out,” he said.

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Associated Press reporter Corey Williams in West Bloomfield, Mich., contributed to this story.