Woman Raises $127,000 for 82-Year-Old Walmart Worker with Cane So She Can Pay Medical Bills and Retire

One person can make a difference, and a TikToker from Arizona proved it. She saw an older woman working at Walmart and approached her—it was the beginning of a miracle encounter.

Carmen Kelly moved to Arizona and dreamed about retiring and enjoying her golden years. However, the 2004 relocation didn’t go as she had hoped.

A series of health setbacks sent Kelly to the emergency room and quickly depleted her savings. The steep medical bills left her in an unexpected predicament and forced her to join the working force again. Things looked hopeless, but a big blessing was on its way.

Carmen Kelly | Source: tiktok.com/@rustywarrenknockersupgal

She Always Did Her Best

Throughout Kelly’s life, she faced various ups and downs but never imagined still working hard at 82. But she had no choice; she needed money to put food on the table.

Kelly started working at her local Walmart in Apache Junction. Amid the stress, she kept smiling and greeted customers as they entered the store. Her workplace had a policy that enforced no sitting during working hours, so Kelly, who used a cane, leaned on a cart from time to time while giving her best.

None of Kelly’s retirement goals were within reach, but everything changed after Rizzo shared a touching clip on TikTok.

Carmen Kelly | Source: tiktok.com/@rustywarrenknockersupgal

It Broke Her Heart

Many shoppers saw Kelly as she propped herself up against a cart, but nobody paid her a second thought until a TikToker entered the building. The kind-hearted woman named Liz Rizzo couldn’t stop thinking about Kelly. She shared:

“When I saw her when I walked in the door, my heart just cracked open. The seniors in our world need to be taken care of because they took care of us.”

Rizzo’s heart broke because the older woman had to work, and when she heard her story, she knew she had to do something.

Liz Rizzo and Carmen Kelly | Source: youtube.com/12 News

The Life-Changing Meeting

Kelly had $50 to her name, and while she loved her job because she connected with people, she wanted to cut back on hours and buy a home close to her family.

None of Kelly’s retirement goals were within reach, but everything changed after Rizzo shared a touching clip on TikTok. With her permission, the TikToker told her followers about the Walmart employee, directing them to a GoFundMe page she created.

Carmen Kelly | Source: tiktok.com/@rustywarrenknockersupgal

It Was a True Miracle

The goal was $10,000, but the online community rallied together and surpassed Rizzo’s expectations. By December 20, 2022, more than $127,000 was donated! It left Kelly speechless, and she told Rizzo:

“I just feel like God sent you to me. I feel God is working through you.”

Rizzo went from being a stranger to Kelly to the woman who changed her life forever—and all it took was a 90-second clip. The Walmart greeter had no words to tell Rizzo how she felt, settling for calling their encounter a true miracle.

Liz Rizzo and Carmen Kelly | Source: tiktok.com/@rustywarrenknockersupgal

Looking Forward to Her Golden Years

Kelly said that she would never be able to repay Rizzo for her kindness, but the TikToker assured her that no repayment was needed. The older woman’s dreams about retiring are no longer out of reach, thanks to Rizzo. Kelly noted:

“[These are going to] be the golden years for me.”

Carmen Kelly with her grandkids | Source: tiktok.com/@rustywarrenknockersupgal

The Online Comments

Abundant praise has streamed in for Rizzo, but the TikToker is as humble as she is kind. She stated that she was “just a mediator,” and the miraculous outcome was possible because of her TikToker family.

Netizens sent their best wishes to Kelly, hoping she would enjoy the rest of her days without stress. Many people were also in awe of the way one person’s deeds made an unbelievably significant difference:

“Carmen, you are an amazing person! Most deserving of this blessing!”

– (Raquel Guerrero) December 17, 2022

“This breaks my heart. Love that you are doing this for her.”

– (thatmainechick207) December 16, 2022

“It’s sad that this happens. Blessings to you, Carmen.”

– (Dexterdexter) December 20, 2022

“What a beautiful thing to help Carmen. She looks like such a sweet lady.”

– (sunshine23) December 20, 2022

The now-viral TikTok video showcased the power of people and what beautiful things can happen when a community comes together. The fundraiser will enable Kelly to reach her goals of spending less time at Walmart and more with her loved ones.

A random act of kindness can have effects far beyond what we imagine, and we should never underestimate it. Well done to Rizzo!

Click here for a story about another TikToker who went out of his way to help an older woman. She worked in Walmart to pay off her mortgage, but everything changed thanks to the kind teenager.

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