A 78-year-old DoorDash driver who went viral online after he was caught on a doorbell camera shuffling up a driveway is nearly a millionaire thanks to thousands of donations from caring strangers.
Richard Pulley was seen struggling up the curved path to Brittany Smith’s home in Manchester, Tennessee, on March 10 while dropping off her Starbucks orders.
Saddened by the elderly man’s difficulty with the delivery, Smith used social media to connect with Pulley to learn why he is still working.
She discovered he was forced to become a Dasher after his wife, Brenda, lost her job. The ordeal left the couple with no money to afford their expenses and medication.
Touched by what she saw, Smith launched the GoFundMe on behalf of the elderly man with one goal in mind: ‘Let’s help Richard go back into retirement!’
She initially set a goal of $20,000, but so many have been keen to help Pulley out that donations have flowed in rapidly, totaling more than $900,000 at the time of writing.
With over 30,000 different donations, the goal has since been raised to an eye-popping $1.1million.
Many have left kind sentiments for Pulley and his wife as they can finally lie back and enjoy their golden years.
Richard Pulley can finally retire from his work as a DoorDash driver after a GoFundMe raised nearly a $1million for him and his wife Brenda
Pulley was captured on the doorbell camera at Brittany Smith’s home in Manchester, Tennessee, on March 10 while dropping off her Starbucks orders
Smith later found Pulley through social media and discovered he drove to make extra money as he and wife don’t have enough to retire after his wife lost her job
‘Richard, I hope you and your wife enjoy your retirement and get to put your feet up,’ wrote one. ‘I also hope this fundraiser will allow you to spend time doing activities you both enjoy!’
‘Sending you and your wife strength and comfort. Wishing you peaceful days ahead and the chance to rest again,’ another added.
‘I hope you and your wife get the retirement you deserve,’ a third said. ‘My grandparents are my best friends, and they are about the same age, so when I saw this, my heart broke for you. I pray you’re able to live comfortably forever!’
In an interview with WSMV, Pulley expressed his gratitude for the donations: ‘We appreciate every one of them.’
‘It’s taking a lot of pressure off of us,’ he added. ‘And making life livable once again.’
It was later revealed that the elderly couple worked together as delivery drivers: Brenda would drive, and her husband would deliver the food to the home.
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The Pulley’s met Smith and her daughter recently at a restaurant where they shared their gratitude for her setting up the campaign and she handed them a check
‘When you’re past your mid-70s, there’s not exactly a line of people waiting to hire you,’ Brenda told the outlet.
The couple both noted again how astonished they are that so many strangers are willing to help them.
The top donation was an enormous $5,000 from an anonymous good Samaritan.
Brenda was also shocked by Smith’s act of kindness in setting up the GoFundMe: ‘I just can’t believe that someone would be that caring to set this up for us.’
The couple was recently able to meet Smith and thank her for changing their lives as she handed them a check.
