A granddaughter starts a fundraiser so her 86-year-old grandfather can retire from the supermarket: “If they can do it, so can I”
A community came together for an elderly man who, despite his age and physical limitations, gets up every day to go to work.
Tom Mims is an 86‑year‑old Alabama man who still wakes up early every morning to head to his job at a Piggly Wiggly supermarket.
Despite his age and ongoing heart problems, he shows up faithfully every day — a routine that has inspired his granddaughter to launch a fundraising campaign to help him finally retire.
Unable to retire
The campaign, created with the sole goal of giving her grandfather the retirement he’s never had, has quickly gained traction. Since launching it, his granddaughter has received an outpouring of donations and heartfelt messages from people across the community.
At first, she wasn’t sure whether her grandfather would feel comfortable accepting the help, but now he asks her every day how much has been raised.
Speaking to the Alabama Political Reporter, she said she’s deeply grateful for the support — but she also can’t help thinking about the many older Americans who, after a lifetime of hard work, still feel they have no choice but to keep working.
“I believe we should take care of our elders, because they’re the ones who built the foundation for us,” says Candice Lash, who started the fundraiser as a way to show her grandfather just how much he’s loved and appreciated.
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