When we think about what we’ll be doing when we’re in our eighties, working a cash register at the local superstore isn’t exactly on the dream board.
That’s exactly what 82-year-old Butch Marion was doing when TikToker Rory McCarty wandered into the Walmart in Cumberland, Maryland, to purchase batteries. After chatting with Butch, Rory learned the older man has been working since he was 11 years old, and he spent 10 of those many working years enlisted in the United States Navy.
Butch currently works about 30 hours each week, working a cash register for 8 to 9 hours at a time. He says he originally retired years ago, but when his ex-wife’s new husband had health problems, he went back to work to help them out.
Rory was moved by Butch’s story. The small business owner has a large following on TikTok, and he was inspired by recent stories of people using their platform to help elderly workers retire. He tracked Butch down on a break in the parking lot and asked for permission to start a GoFundMe to help him out, and Butch readily agreed.
He likely didn’t think anything would come of it, but Rory stuck to his word and uploaded a video that very day.
The video was viewed over 3.3 million times! People quickly opened their wallets to contribute to Butch’s retirement fund, and within a few days Rory’s goal of $100,000 was shattered.
“As a business owner and knowing how hard it’s been to try to find good help for my business, I was astounded seeing this little older man still grinding,” Rory wrote on the GoFundMe. “Working 8 to 9 hour shifts. Recently seeing a GoFundMe for an 82-yr-old lady working at Walmart on TikTok, and seeing they raised money for her to retire for good. I wanted to help this Navy Veteran to live the remainder of his years traveling to see his kids in Florida. Get him off his feet for 8 hrs at a time.”
Less than a week after Rory happened to check out at Butch’s register, he handed the senior citizen a check for $108,000!
“I feel like a new man,” Butch said to FOX 5.
Butch has now formally retired (again!), and he plans to travel to Florida to see family members he hasn’t been able to see in many years. He also wants to fix up his house and simply enjoy his remaining years without worrying about money as much.
“Bird out of a cage,” said Butch.
Isn’t it incredible how social media has the power to change someone’s life so completely? We’re grateful to Rory and others like him who use that power to do good deeds in the world around them.
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