Teen raises $186,000 for 81-year-old Walmart worker so she can pay off her mortgage and finally retire

Doing nice things for people and making gestures to improve their lives should be part and parcel of modern day society. Sadly, the concept of charity and giving to others when you have an excess is something that appears to have been on a steady decline over the years.

It is not entirely dead, though. Not yet.

No, every once in a while we stumble across a story like this one, that perfectly demonstrates the beauty found in going above and beyond for strangers in need.

Nola Carpenter, who turns 82 this month, has been working at a Walmart for more than 20 years, her daughter said.

Posted by lehighvalleylive.com on Friday, November 11, 2022
As per reports, Devan Bonagura from New Jersey took notice of an older woman who worked at his local Walmart store.

Given her advanced years, he simply couldn’t understand why she was still working and not enjoying her retirement. Ultimately, he decided to lend a helping hand that would send waves across the internet.

Credit / Tiktok.com/@dbon973_

Devan began by sharing a short, 15-second video to TikTok, showing an old lady siting at the break room table at the Walmart in Hackettstown, New Jersey, in the middle of her shift.

The old lady was 81-year-old Nola Carpenter, a resident of New Jersey who had worked at the same Walmart store for over 20 years.

As mentioned, the 15-second clip Devan uploaded to TikTok, accompanied by the text “Life shouldn’t b this hard …” struck a chord online. Many viewers sympathized with Nola, while others expressed shock that she was still having to work despite being 81.

After the video’s response, Devan decided he needed to see if more could be done to help her.

Upon learning that Nola was working to earn enough money to pay off her mortgage – this on a wage of somewhere between $17-$19 an hour – Devan created a fundraiser for the 81-year-old with the title: “Let’s help Nola retire.”

“Nola works at Walmart and that says enough. Let’s all come together and help,” the caption read.

Incredibly, the store manager contacted Devan and demanded he delete both the video and the fundraiser for Nola, claiming his business was being threatened as a result and threatening to involve the cops.

Devan responded by sticking to his guns. He said: “I told them to do what you have to do because I’m getting this money to this woman one way or another.”

Fast forward to a video posted on November 5, and Devan paid a surprise visit on Nola. After talking with her for a time, he transferred $110,000 raised through the fundraiser into her account.

When the 81-year-old explained that she was going to have to work to make up the additional $60,000 left on her mortgage, Devan decided to leave the GoFundMe page live until it reached a sum in excess of $186,000.

“I feel good, and I’m thankful for Devan for what he’s done, or none of this would have been possible,” said Carpenter, who could finally afford to retire.

Nola, who expressed sadness over the thought of missing her regular customers, confirmed she would continue working during the upcoming holiday season, before retiring at the beginning of 2023.

Related Posts

MY DAUGHTER SWITCHED SEATS MID-FLIGHT—AND I FOUND OUT WHY TOO LATE It was supposed to be a quiet flight. Just me and my daughter, Reyna, heading to Phoenix to see my sister. I’d packed snacks, downloaded a few cartoons on the iPad, and even brought her unicorn plushie that she won’t sleep without. We boarded early, settled into our seats—me by the window, Reyna in the middle. I had just started zoning out, watching the tarmac, when I realized she was no longer beside me. I turned my head and there she was, squished in next to a man across the aisle, looking up at him like she knew him. “Reyna,” I said, trying to keep my voice calm. “Come back over here, baby.” She turned to me with the most serious face I’ve ever seen on a four-year-old and said, “No, I wanna sit with Grandpa.” I laughed awkwardly. “Sweetie, that’s not Grandpa.” The man looked just as confused as I was. “I’m sorry,” he said, glancing between us. “I’ve never met her before.” But Reyna didn’t budge. She grabbed the man’s arm with both hands and leaned in like she was guarding him. “She knows me,” she insisted. “You’re Grandpa Mike.” My stomach dropped. Not because I recognized the guy—he was a stranger to me—but because of the name. Mike. That’s my dad’s name. The dad who left when I was seven. The one Reyna’s never met. The one I never talk about. I tried to laugh it off again, but something about the way Reyna kept staring at him made my chest tighten. The man looked just as shaken as I felt. Then he said something I didn’t expect.⬇️ Continue reading in the first comment 👇

The flight was supposed to be silent. I’m travelling to Phoenix with my daughter, Reyna, to see my sister. I had packed food, downloaded a few videos…

If you don’t get enough of this 1 vitamin, your skin may lose elasticity and develop wrinkles. Full article 👇 💬

Vitamin C is a vital nutrient that plays a crucial role in maintaining the health and vitality of our skin. It is a powerful antioxidant that helps…

A message on the back of an SUV went viral after being shared on Reddit, quickly earning praise for the driver.. (check in first comment👇)

After being uploaded online, a phrase scrawled on the rear of an SUV swiftly gained popularity. After a Reddit user posted a picture of the driver on…

It’s been called the worst thing you can do. 😨(check in first comment👇)

Waking up in the middle of the night can be frustrating, but trying too hard to fall back asleep can make it worse. Sleep experts recommend not…

I was shocked to learn why some window grills curve at the bottom – most people don’t know the real reason! 🤯👇Continue in first comment👇

Window bars are commonly installed for security purposes, but some feature a distinctive “potbelly” design, where the center of the bar bulges outward. This unique shape serves…

The full story is in the comments.⬇️

Samuel, come here.” Sam hesitated. His father rarely used his full name unless something was wrong. He entered the living room to find his father, eyes red…