78-year-old DoorDash driver goes viral as strangers raise nearly $500K to help him retire
-GoFundMe
A 78-year-old Tennessee retiree has gone viral after a doorbell camera captured him struggling to deliver a coffee order, sparking a wave of generosity that has raised nearly $500,000 to help him return to retirement.
Richard Pulley was filmed slowly walking up a driveway to drop off a Starbucks order at a home in Manchester, Tennessee. The video showed Pulley carefully making his way up the path before bending down to place the delivery on the porch.
The clip was shared on TikTok by the homeowner, Brittany Smith, who was moved by the delivery driver’s determination and set out to find “Richard the Starbucks delivery man.”
Internet users quickly identified Pulley, revealing that he and his wife, Brenda, had been working together as drivers for DoorDash for more than a year.
NEW: Internet users have raised $280,000 for an elderly man who became a DoorDash delivery driver to help pay for his and his wife's bills.
A Tennessee woman decided to take matters into her own hands when she saw the man delivering her Starbucks.
"I work because I have to. I… pic.twitter.com/qWIXG8ZzStAccording to the couple, Brenda drives while Pulley handles the deliveries. They began doing the work after Brenda lost her job “at no fault of her own,” leaving the family with only one source of income.
“When you’re past your mid-70s, there’s not exactly a line of people waiting to hire you,” Brenda said, explaining that the deliveries helped them cover everyday expenses and rising medical costs.
Pulley added that the work became necessary to supplement their finances after losing income. The couple has been married for more than 56 years and has struggled with thousands of dollars in medical expenses each year.
After learning about their situation, Smith created a fundraiser to help the couple return to retirement. Within days, the campaign drew massive support from strangers across the internet.
As of Friday, donations had climbed to nearly $500,000.
The couple were left stunned when they learned about the fundraiser during a meeting with Smith at a local restaurant.
“It’s really difficult to believe there are that many people that generous to try to help us — people that don’t even know us,” Pulley said, adding that the support has taken “a lot of pressure off” their lives.
Brenda also expressed gratitude to Smith for tracking them down and organizing the fundraiser, saying she was amazed that someone would care enough to help complete strangers.