![Dillon McCormick]()
This story is both heartwarming and heartbreaking.
I don't think anybody would disagree when I say that we as a country need to do a better job at taking care of our veterans. These brave men and women stepped up and were willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom, and we owe them so much better than what we give them right now.
For example, there's no reason that a 90-year old veteran should have to work at a grocery store pushing shopping carts in the 90-degree heat just to be able to afford to live. But that's what retired Air Force veteran Dillon McCormick was doing when he was spotted by former journalist Karen Swensen at a Winn-Dixie in New Orleans.
According to Swensen, she was shopping at the grocery store over Memorial Day weekend when she began chatting with McCormick, who revealed that he was working the job because he needed the money to survive. And not only that, but he doesn't have a car so he's forced to walk over a mile to work every day.
Now, I don't know if you know anything about the New Orleans heat, but I used to live there and it's absolutely brutal in the summers. Between the heat and the humidity it's miserable to even be outside. And I couldn't imagine walking all that way and then having to work out in the scorching heat.
So Swensen decided to help.
According to a
GoFundMe she set up:
"Mr. McCormick is working to EAT, he said. He needs $2500/month to live and says he only gets $1100 from social security. So he must push carts in triple digit heat to make ends meet."
The initial goal was $30k, which would have helped McCormick for about a year, but the fundraiser quickly blew by that goal thanks to some help from Swensen's friend and
Today Show anchor Hoda Kotb, who not only shared the campaign but donated $5,000 herself.
Ultimately, over $220,000 was raised for McCormick in just 24 hours - though when he found out about the money he was skeptical. So Swensen returned to visit him, this time accompanied by the local sheriff, to assure him that he wasn't being scammed and was really going to be able to retire if he wants to.
"Should he choose to remain working, it will be just that - his choice. No longer will the 90-year-old veteran have to push shopping carts in triple digit heat to put food on his table."
For his part, McCormick called the donations a "miracle," and had a message for everybody who donated:
"At my age it's probably a miracle...
Thank 'em very, very much. And I hope they receive more than I ever did."
As incredible as this story is, it's important to remember that had it not been for the generosity of strangers, this 90-year old man who served our country would still be forced to work at a grocery store in the 90-degree heat just to survive.
It's shameful and we have to do better. But it's great to see that McCormick will finally be able to retire after giving so much for so many years.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yK2m1tZmXdo
