Michigan Army Veteran Raises $1.5M After Pension Loss and Financial Hardship

An 88-year-old Army veteran in Michigan, Ed Bambas, who has been working full-time at a grocery store despite financial struggles, is set to receive over $1.5 million raised through a GoFundMe campaign initiated after his story went viral on social media. Bambas lost his pension and health coverage when his original employer went bankrupt, leading him to sell his home and property to manage basic expenses. Following his wife's death seven years ago, he has been working to support himself but accumulated debt due to medical bills and insufficient income. The campaign was launched by Australian influencer Samuel Weidenhofer, who discovered Bambas at his workplace and shared his story online, resulting in rapid public support and donations. Bambas' son confirmed that his father is unaware of the campaign's success and has limited internet use. The grocery store, Meijer, where Bambas works, has pledged to provide ongoing financial planning support to help manage the donation funds and continue supporting him as an employee. The raised funds are expected to secure Bambas' retirement and improve his financial stability after years of hardship.