Never underestimate the power of many people working toward a common goal.
Patriotic Kenny has taken TikTok by storm. For the past few months, the 79-year-old Navy veteran has been sharing videos of his quest to learn sign language so he can communicate with his friend Jerry.
The septuagenarian gets around his hometown of Willernie, Minnesota, on an electric scooter. The mobility scooter was his lifeline, enabling him to leave his rural home and go visit with Jerry and his other friends in town. He has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, so he can’t walk for long distances.
Unfortunately, Kenny’s scooter broke down one day, and when he tried to get it fixed, he learned that it was too old to repair.
Kenny was heartbroken. His friends tried to text him, but he was too busy “boo-hooing” to reply.
That’s when his friends decided to challenge the internet to raise $5,000 and buy Kenny a brand new scooter! They made a TikTok video asking for help, and within 24 hours, strangers had donated enough money to buy Kenny a top-of-the-line scooter with all the bells and whistles.
When they told him the good news, his reaction was priceless.
He received so many donations that he found himself with extra money, so he and his friends decided to use the surplus to help other veterans in the same position. Kenny started a new fundraising page in hopes of raising enough to give brand new scooters to 25 heroes in need.
“Kenny is starting this GoFundMe page with the goal of raising money to purchase and donate mobility scooters to Veterans in need,” they wrote.
So far, over 200 donors have sent in $29,468 to help veterans reclaim their independence with a mobility scooter.
Watch one video, and it’s easy to see why the internet fell in love with Kenny! He’s so spunky and good-natured, and his generous gesture will change so many veterans’ lives for the better.
Share this story to thank Kenny for giving back to those who have sacrificed so much.
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