TikToker Raises Almost $200,000 For Older Walmart Staff's Retirement And Mortgage Loan

Bonagura's video now has over 4.1 million likes, 30,000-plus shares, and 37,900-plus comments from fellow TikTokers. His hashtag encouraged TikTokers to blow the video up, and they did.

Within 24 hours, he created a fundraising account via GoFundMe and raised over $175,000 on a goal of $15,000. Once he exceeded the goal beyond measure, Bonagura disabled the fund for further donations and made a second video presenting Nola with the money he raised.

Upon presenting Nola with the first $110,000, she accepted it with reservations saying she still needed to make $60,000. She thanked Bonagura for lightening the burden, leading him to raise more money, and he reached the goal.

Despite Bonagura's kind gesture, he alleged that Walmart suspended him with pay because the video led to backlash over their employment of the older woman. The company then threatened to involve the police if Bonagura didn't take down the fundraiser and videos, but he refused to succumb to the threats.

TikTokers encouraged him to present Nola with the money off Walmart's property and after work hours to avoid legal loopholes. Another told him to get a lawyer when talking to the police, while more users threatened Walmart, saying they'd react if the company fired him for his altruism.

Commenters joked about Nola being a typical old person focused on the problem rather than the result. They posted jokes like,

One commenter wished for him to get a better-paying job because of the alleged mistreatment from Walmart and his third-party employer.

Bonagura's actions were heartfelt because Nola would've worked at least two years to raise that extra $60,000 after taxes and more to make the entire $170,000-plus. It's great to see that there are still good people in the world with the bad news trudging in daily.