Over $360,000 has been raised in support of a 90-year-old Air Force veteran after he was filmed selling jewelry at his local pawn shop to afford rent and care for his wife with dementia.
The story began when a New Hampshire man named Donald went to pawn off his jewelry to cover his debts. During his visit, he confided in Janelle, one of the shop’s employees, about falling behind on rent and struggling to care for his wife, who was recently diagnosed with dementia. Moved by his situation, Janelle decided to start a GoFundMe campaign to support Donald.
“He is also a disabled veteran (Airforce) who is taking care of his wife who just got diagnosed with dementia,” she wrote in the GoFundMe description. “They never had kids and they don’t have any family left.”
“He’s deathly afraid he’s going to be displaced and that they are going to make his wife go to a home,” she continued.
Before the GoFundMe campaign went viral, Janelle had posted a video on TikTok showing her giving Donald an envelope containing $1,300 in cash. This act of kindness came after Donald had returned to the pawn shop a second time, attempting to sell his belongings.
@jenellemarie0212 #veteran #actofkindness #usgoldandpawn #manchesternh #fypage #viral #feelgoodvideo ♬ original sound – Jenellemarie0212
Donald initially refused to accept the money, but Janelle insisted. Thanks to her generosity, he was able to use the $1,300 to pay his debt to his landlord.
“You’re an angel in disguise, you really are,” Donald tells Janelle in the video. “I don’t know what to say, I really don’t know what to say.”
After Janelle posted the touching video of Donald accepting the money, which quickly went viral, the GoFundMe campaign has raised over $369,000.
The fund is still open for donations to support Donald with his bills and care for his wife. Janelle also mentioned that she and Donald are planning to meet with an attorney to secure the funds in a safe account for him to access.