The Power of Paying Attention
What started as a routine grocery run turned into a $1.7 million gift this week that will allow an 88-year-old grocery store clerk to finally retire.
At a Meijer store in Brighton, Michigan, Ed Bambas rings up groceries the way he has for years -- quietly, kindly, and without complaint. What most customers do not realize is that Bambas, a U.S. military veteran, is still working full-time not by choice but because he has no other option: “I keep working because I need the income to survive,” Bambas said.
Bambas originally retired from General Motors in 1999. Ten years later, GM’s 2009 Chapter 11 bankruptcy reshaped his future. By 2012, his pension had reduced significantly, and the financial strain grew heavier as his wife's medical expenses mounted. To stay afloat, he and his wife sold their home and property and lived off savings. After her death, the work itself became part of his grief process: “I talked with everyone that came through my cashier line because it helped me not become despondent of her loss,” he said.
Bambas began working at Meijer at age 82, surprised they would even hire him. He worked eight hours a day, five days a week, and customers appreciated his warmth. One customer even nominated Bambas for a social media spotlight -- despite mistakenly assuming for years that his name was Bob, an error that Bambas never corrected.
Enter Samuel Weidenhofer, an Australian influencer known for sharing hopeful stories and mobilizing generosity. While checking out at Meijer, Weidenhofer struck up a conversation with Bambas, recorded a short video, and posted it online. Within days, the video went viral. Weidenhofer launched a GoFundMe, expecting modest help. But what followed was mindblowing even for Weidenhofer.
“A couple donations turned into tens of thousands of strangers,” Weidenhofer said, calling it one of the largest fundraisers in GoFundMe history. In less than four days, Weidenhofer raised more than $1.7 million on Bambas' behalf.
On December 5, inside a Brighton financial office, Weidenhofer surprised Bambas with a check for the full amount. The 88-year-old cashier broke down in tears: “I am totally surprised by the generosity,” Bambas said. “I cannot express in any words how thankful I am to all the people.”
Now that retirement is finally possible, Bambas says he hopes to spend more time with family, take a long-overdue trip to visit his brother, and even return to the golf course. Walking away from Meijer will not be easy, he admitted, but the financial burden he carried for years has been lifted.
Reflecting on the moment, Weidenhofer named what many sensed while watching the story unfold: “We all know an Ed,” he said. “We all know a veteran who fought for their country who hasn’t been given the support that they should.”
“It’s just amazing to see what a community of people can do," Weidenhofer said.
Stories like this echo Paul's biblical call in Galatians 6: “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” And sometimes those burdens belong to people right in front of us -- standing behind a register, leaning across a counter, or sitting beside us in worship.
How will we each keep our eyes open for the Eds among us, listen long enough to hear their stories, and then trust that small acts of attention can ripple outward into extraordinary grace?