Retired News Anchor Raises $233k for Working 90-Year-Old Veteran

Quick Smiles:

• A retired television news anchor succeeded in raising a substantial $233,000 for a 90-year-old Air Force veteran who had been working in harsh conditions to support himself.
• After encountering Dillon McCormick, hard at work pushing carts in a parking lot, Karen Swensen felt inspired to use her influence to better the veteran’s situation.
• Thanks to a GoFundMe campaign, America answered Swensen’s plea for help with an outpour of donations, greatly exceeding the initial goal of $35,000.

During a hot Louisiana summer, retired New Orleans news anchor, Karen Swensen, stumbled upon an unexpected sight. In the parking lot of a local supermarket, 90-year-old Dillon McCormick was strenuously pushing shopping carts.

McCormick, an Air Force veteran, was born in 1933 and belongs to the Silent Generation. He shared with Swensen that his Social Security check only covered half of the $2,500 required to cover his monthly expenses. This financial struggle is what kept him working in the sweltering supermarket parking lot.

Deeply touched by McCormick’s situation, Swensen decided to take action. She interviewed shoppers and confirmed that he’d been working there for quite some time, constantly seen gathering stray shopping carts. Swensen launched a GoFundMe page with an introduction that read, “He is a veteran of the United States Military. It’s Memorial Day. It’s hot. Mr. McCormick was born in 1933, making him a part of the Silent Generation. Please, America, let us be his voice. We can do this,” with a goal of $35,000.

The response was overwhelming. In just 24 hours, over $200,000 had been donated to the fundraising campaign. The total amount raised exceeded $233,000, leading Swensen to disable the donation option on the platform.

“No longer will the 90-year-old veteran have to push shopping carts in searing heat to put food on his table. Should he choose to continue working, it will be his choice,” Swensen joyfully updated on the GoFundMe page.

Swensen shared the heartwarming news of these bountiful donations, which rapidly spread among the contributors. She expressed her excitement saying, “Tomorrow we will begin the transfer of funds. What a delightful day awaits for him!”

This uplifting story serves as a testament to the power of community and the remarkable things that can happen when we support our heroes.

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