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(FOX 2) – A Metro Detroit senior citizen has become a viral sensation. At 88, most seniors are enjoying retirement, but Army veteran Edmund Bambas is working five days a week because he says he can’t afford not to. However, help is on the way.<\/p>\n
Big picture view:<\/p>\n
Bambas retired from General Motors in 1999 with eyes on no longer working. He had served in the U.S. Army for years before getting the job at the automaker.<\/p>\n
“In 2012 they went bankrupt and took my pension away from me,” he said.<\/p>\n
“The thing that hurt me the most was when my wife was really sick and when they took the pension, they also took the health care coverage and all but $10,000 of my life insurance,” he said. “So I sold the house. Sold the property I had, and we made it through.”<\/p>\n
Bambas said his wife died seven years ago.<\/p>\n
“She developed atrial fibrillation,” he said.<\/p>\n
Since then, he’s been trying to reestablish himself. He doesn’t have enough income on his own, which is why he now spends a big chunk of his week on his feet, working.<\/p>\n
Ed says his monthly pension payout from his days working at GM is not enough to live on.<\/p>\n
“I get $300 from that pension, that\u2019s all,” he said. “I didn\u2019t have enough money to survive.”<\/p>\n
Local perspective:<\/p>\n
So, after serving his country, raising a family, and caring for his wife, this senior now works five days a week at the Meijer in Brighton on Grand River. If Bambas could retire, his dream would be to “live a little of somewhat the life I was hoping for.”<\/p>\n
Then, when two social media influencers, Mike McKinstry and Samuel Weidenhofer, heard about Ed, they paid him a visit.<\/p>\n
“We put out a little fundraiser, and we\u2019re going to see where it goes,” said McKinstry. “We wanted to share his story and get some more awareness out there and hopefully start a GoFundMe fundraiser.”<\/p>\n
To kick it off, Weidenhofer tipped Edmund $400. As of Wednesday morning, the GoFundMe has eclipsed the $1 million goal with the help of tens of thousands of donations.<\/p>\n
Still shocked by the compassion, Edmund is thankful for all the kindness coming his way.<\/p>\n
“It\u2019s inspiring for me personally to see a story and see what he does every day. I think everyone around the world is kind of seeing the same thing now,” said McKinstry.<\/p>\n
What you can do:<\/p>\n
If you want to help Ed enjoy retirement the right way, you can donate to the GoFundMe by clicking here.<\/a><\/p>\n