A 78-year-old retiree from Tennessee found himself delivering food for DoorDash alongside his unemployed wife to afford medications, and their story has gone viral. Strangers came together to raise nearly $500,000 for the couple.
Richard Pulley was filmed struggling to deliver a Starbucks order to Brittany Smith’s home in Manchester one Tuesday morning. The video captured his slow walk to the house, showing a moment of hesitation as he approached the stairs.
After seeing the video of Richard’s determination, Smith went looking for “Richard the Starbucks Delivery Man,” and it didn’t take long for internet users to identify him.
Pulley shared that he and his wife Brenda have been working together for over a year, delivering for DoorDash after she lost her job, which she claims wasn’t her fault. While Brenda drives, Richard is the one who completes the deliveries.
“Once you’re in your mid-70s, no one is exactly eager to hire you,” Brenda commented on the challenges they face.
Richard added, “With just one income, you really have to push yourself… it all gets overwhelming, and we needed to replace that lost income.”
After hearing their story, Smith established a GoFundMe page to “help Richard get back into retirement.” As of early Friday, the campaign had nearly raised $500,000.
Smith met with the couple at a local burger restaurant to show them the fundraiser, which left them both astonished at the outpouring of support. They expressed gratitude for the kindness of those who wanted to help them enjoy their retirement.
It’s incredible—“I can’t believe there are so many generous people trying to help us… people who don’t even know us,” Richard remarked. Brenda added that it alleviated some financial stress they had been dealing with.
Brenda mentioned the struggle of medical bills, stating, “You look at all the expenses… sometimes it feels like you might end up in the hospital, and that costs even more.”
The couple thanked Smith for her efforts to find them after the delivery incident. “She’s amazing. I just can’t believe someone would do this for us,” Brenda expressed.
This story comes just a few months after another case went viral involving Ed Bambas, an 88-year-old Army veteran who was also struggling financially and had a fundraiser that raised over $1.7 million.
