Couple Raises Over $260,000 For Great-Grandmother Who Tumbled While Delivering Their Food Orders

Feb 17, 2023 by apost team

A couple in South Carolina was able to raise more than $260,000 for a great-grandmother who took a tumble on their front porch as she was delivering their food orders.

Kevin Keighron and Lacey Klein opened a fundraising campaign for Barbara Gillespie, 72, who has been working at a local Domino’s for nearly six years. She was walking through the couple’s door with food packs in both hands when she tripped and fell down on the floor. The whole incident was caught on their home’s security camera.

Gillespie, who was recognized as 2022 Team Member of the Year by the pizza franchise, is just one of 10.6 million adults over the age of 65 years old who continue to be part of the workforce, according to a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2020 survey. These baby boomers, who were born from 1946 to 1964, are still working instead of enjoying their retirement years due to factors like the economic downturn, the increased flexibility in the workplace, and the generally changing perceptions on retirement.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projected that this trend among senior adults would likely continue, and more will be employed by companies by 2030. While America’s average life expectancy is 78 years old, at least 20% of these seniors will still be working for the remainder of their lives and take home an average of $50,000 a year. 

An agency like the American Association of Retired Persons is also advocating for older adults to still be suitable for paid work, especially if they belong to the low-income bracket, so that they could remain resourceful and have some security about money. However, Gillespie’s situation has left Keighron and Klein quite upset. 

Klein brought attention to the great-grandmother’s plight after she posted the video of her fall on TikTok to let the public know of the fundraiser. In three days, more than 16.1 million saw the video, and more than 16,000 people from all over the world contributed money to the GoFundMe page. 

Klein relayed that Gillespie actually cared more about dropping their food than her injuries. She and Keighron both work in the medical field and quickly helped Gillespie get her bearing and balance after her rough fall. However, Klein also knew that the old woman deserved an even bigger tip “to help her with anything she may need,” thus she opened the fundraiser.

“Let’s show her some kindness and take off some of this burden that our economy is causing the older generations especially,” Klein wrote on GoFundMe. 

In an interview with “Good Morning America,” Klein said that they are hoping Gillespie can retire, enjoy her kids, grandchildren and great-grandkids, go on a cruise vacation, and do what she wants that isn’t very physical. The couple said that they grew up with fathers who worked so hard until they died, and they don’t want this for Gillespie. 

In a series of follow-up TikTok videos, the couple documented giving their surprise “tip” to Gillespie, who was left speechless and overwhelmed by the gesture of thousands of strangers on the internet.

“Since the minute we told Barbara, she has had full access to the GoFundMe as a beneficiary so she has been able to see/keep up with all the donations and well wishes!” Klein wrote in an update. 

With the money secure, Gillespie may now start planning her retirement.

apost.com

Doesn’t Barbara Gillespie deserve to relax and enjoy the rest of her retirement year? What can you say about senior adults like her who are still trying to make ends meet? Do you know someone in the same situation? Let u know your thoughts and pass this story along to friends or family!