In the sweltering heat of triple-digit temperatures, a 90-year-old veteran works hard, pushing carts when strangers start fundraising for elderly gentleman.
If you thought the world was a gloomy, negative place, think again after reading this touching story about Dillon McCormick, a US Air Force veteran.
The 90-year-old gentleman works tirelessly as a cart pusher outside a Winn-Dixie grocery store in a New Orleans suburb of Metairie, Louisiana. Even when the temperatures reach triple digits, he continues to work as usual.
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Karen Swensen Ronquillo, a New Orleans-based news reporter, was astonished when she saw the old gentleman working diligently at his age on Memorial Day.
When she asked him why he was working even at this age, he said that he needed to pay his monthly bills and put food on his table.
The elderly veteran, who has served in Colorado and Greenland, further explained that he needed about $2,500 to live a comfortable life since he received only half the amount from his Social Security checks, he took up the job and is still working.
She even asked other shoppers in the parking lot and got to know that McCormick has been working there for quite some time and is always busy rounding up shopping carts. Two men also claimed to help him sometimes with the carts.
Although Ronquillo has come across many amazing stories in her career, McCormick’s dedication moved her and she took it up as a challenge to help the elderly gentleman.
She started a GoFundMe page for him and mentioned in the introduction, “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.”
Once again, strangers and private donations started pouring in, and the campaign raised almost $200,000 within 24 hours.
Eventually, Ronquillo had to switch off the donations button when it crossed more than $233,000.
In a later update, she wrote on the page, “No longer will the 90-year-old veteran have to push shopping carts in triple-digit heat to put food on his table. Should he choose to remain working, it will be just that—his choice. He will live out his days in comfort and security.”
McCormick considered himself fortunate to have found Ronquillo and was grateful for all the donations.
