An incredibly generous TikToker has raised $186,000 for an 81-year-old woman in order to pay off her mortgage so she can finally retire.
Devan Bonagura, 19, works for a third-party company that sells products to Walmart, and it's at the retailer where he met 81-year-old Nola Carpenter.
On November 3, Devan uploaded a video to his TikTok account of Nola sitting in the break room in a New Jersey Walmart looking tired from the day of work with the caption: "Life shouldn't be this hard."
At the time of writing, the video has received over 30 million views with tens of thousands of people flooding the comments saying they wish they could help the 81-year-old retire.
One comment read: "GOFUNDME ASAP" - before going on to receive 130,000 likes. Devan would honor the request of his followers, and later set up a GoFundMe to help Nola retire.
Needless to say, the response was overwhelming.
Only two days after posting the original video, Devan uploaded a follow-up with Nola where he informs her that supporters had raised $110,000 within 24 hours in order to help her retire.
Nola, incredibly grateful for the gesture, opens up to the TikToker about how she is working in order to pay off her house, and whilst $110,000 would help bring her mortgage "way down" she explained: "I'd still have to work until I get the other $60,000 paid off on the house."
Walmart currently offers associates an average wage of $19-an-hour, so Nola would have to work several more years of 40-hour workweeks in order to pay off the remaining $60,000.
Devan uploaded a follow-up video on November 13 where he announces to the 81-year-old that the GoFundMe reached over $180,000, which would ensure that Nola could pay off her mortgage and retire.
Nola explained that she had been working for the company for 20 years and that although she can retire, there are things she will miss about her job. "I'm going to miss my customers. They look for me every day," she said.
However, despite being thrilled she can retire without the financial burden of her mortgage, Nola won't be leaving her job for good just yet. "I'm going to help them out for the holidays, and after that, it'll be good to stay at home," she explained during the video.
At the time of writing, the GoFundMe page has received $186,000 in donations from 13,500 people wishing for Nola to enjoy her retirement.
TikTok users were quick to offer their support to Nola, with one stating: "congratulations, Nola!! I am so happy for you that you can retire! That place won't be the same without you," and a second adding: "Congrats Nola! lovely that she will be wants [sic] to help her team out over the holidays too."
Another person added: "What a great guy! And everyone’s so awesome for helping Nola out," with a fourth concluding: "So Amazing!! Love this! Nola is so sweet."
We wish Nola a very happy, and well-deserved retirement!
