{"id":327388,"date":"2025-12-05T16:48:09","date_gmt":"2025-12-05T16:48:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/327388\/"},"modified":"2025-12-05T16:48:09","modified_gmt":"2025-12-05T16:48:09","slug":"more-than-1-7-million-raised-for-88-year-old-army-veteran-working-at-grocery-store","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/327388\/","title":{"rendered":"More than $1.7 million raised for 88-year-old Army veteran working at grocery store"},"content":{"rendered":"

For most of his life, 88-year-old Ed Bambas worked toward his American dream<\/a>. But in 2019, he found himself doing what most retirees never imagine: going back to work<\/a>.<\/p>\n

“You do what you have to do,” Bambas said.<\/p>\n

Bambas, an Army veteran, worked for General Motors for 40 years. The automaker’s 2009 bankruptcy<\/a> wiped out his pension. Then, his wife got sick and died.<\/p>\n

With bills mounting, he took a job at a grocery store.<\/p>\n

“I made it a point to try and be as friendly with people as I could because that would take my mind off any depression because of my wife’s death,” Bambas said. “I really, to this day, miss her. I still visit her grave every day.”<\/p>\n

\"Ed<\/p>\n

Ed Bambas worked for General Motors for decades, but the automaker’s 2009 bankruptcy wiped out his pension.<\/p>\n

CBS<\/p>\n

Everything changed this week when a stranger approached Bambas with a simple question.<\/p>\n

“What’s your dream?” influencer Sam Weidenhofer asked<\/a>.<\/p>\n

“To live a little, somewhat, the life I was hoping for,” Bambas said.<\/p>\n

Weidenhofer set up a crowdfunding account to help finance Bambas’ next retirement. As of Friday, the amount raised topped $1.7 million.<\/p>\n

Asked what lesson he’s learned from what’s unfolded over the last few days, Bambas said, “Be polite to people.”<\/p>\n

Small actions \u2014 with a very big return.<\/p>\n

\n More from CBS News\n <\/p>\n