Woman creates viral GoFundMe effort for 90-year-old vet caring for woman with dementia

The chance to help an elderly veteran care for his ailing wife prompted thousands of “angels in disguise” to come forward.

“This is the best birthday present anyone has ever had.”

(Video: WMUR)

At nearly 91 years of age, disabled US Air Force veteran Donald had found himself in an all-too-common situation while caring for his wife, who was recently diagnosed with dementia. As she struggled to make ends meet and worried about losing her to a home, friends at a pawn shop in Manchester, New Hampshire, started a small effort that turned into a viral campaign that ended with $350,000.

A message from Donald after receiving a sum of $250,000 from the active crowdfunding campaign on Friday introduced the veteran and his friends Jenelle Marie along with her fiance at US Gold and Pawn.

“Well, I want to say hello to everyone, wonderful people. Your generosity and kindness is overwhelming,” she explained. “I'm not too sure what to say or how to say it, other than to say that I'm deeply grateful for everything you've done for me. thank you very much God bless you.”

@jenellemarie0212 #donaldtheveteran #manchesternh #usgoldandpawn #gofundme #manchesternh ♬ original sound – Jenellemarie0212

In an earlier video shared by Marie, Donald could be seen presenting jewelry in an effort to pay off a $1,380 debt he had, only to discover that he had taken a collection that had originally raised $1,300.

“You're an angel in disguise. You really are. I don't know what to say,” he was heard saying. “This is the best birthday present anyone has ever had.”

“I'm so excited, I don't know what I'm doing. Oh my God. This is fabulous,” added the veteran who had expressed his hope to take her out to dinner as a thank you when he could afford it, saying: “I could kiss you.”

@jenellemarie0212 #veteran #kindness act #usgoldandpawn #manchesternh #fypage #viral #feelgoodvideo ♬ original sound – Jenellemarie0212

After surpassing 10 million views, Marie's video had helped secure nearly 13,000 donations for Donald and his wife which, at press time, had nearly reached $350,000.

“I think it restores my faith in humanity,” he told WMUR. “I hope this inspires people to do something similar to help the other unfortunate veterans out there because they desperately need help. They really do.”

According to the US Department of Veterans Affairs, efforts to combat veteran homelessness included securing permanent housing for more than 46,000 by 2023, as the homelessness rate fell by nearly 5% since 2020 and by more than 52% since 2010.

Marie had explained that her goal was to find Donald and his wife a permanent housing solution with the money and that they were going to work with a lawyer to set up a safe deposit account for him to access the donated funds.

He also explained how he had been tipped off that there was more than the initial $1,300 because the news outlet was interested in covering the story after he tried to turn down more financial help. “I told him that the news got out about this and that they wanted to do a story and it made him nervous. He is a very private person and does not want to be in the news or any press to contact him. At that point, I knew I had to tell Donald what was really going on, so we had him come to the store right away.

“My fiance and I sat him down and asked him to make sure he remembers to breathe when we tell him the news,” the fundraiser update. detailed. “At that point, before I even told him what the fundraiser was about, he was already very emotional and couldn't believe all the kindness of strangers from all over the world. When he walked in [Thursday]the GoFundMe was $164,000 And when I told him the amount, it was absolute hysterics from both of us… It was a really beautiful and emotional moment, something I'll never forget.”

“He said he didn't deserve it. He was a 'just and normal man', but we explained to him that he's much more than that!” wrote Marie. “You are ALL angels in disguise and THAT kind of love is what this world needs.”

Staff writer

A native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College, where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and seeker of truth, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and dog, and when he's not researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel the

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