Elderly movie theater worker receives $145,000 after young woman’s fundraiser goes viral

MARYVILLE, Tenn. (CBS, KYMA) - An elderly worker at a movie theater was surprised with a gift of nearly $145,000 after a young woman launched an online fundraiser to help her retire.

Brooklyn Green, 21, said she had just watched a movie with her grandparents at the AMC theater in Maryville, Tennessee Saturday night when she noticed the elderly employee walk by, pushing a cleaning cart.

Green then posted a video of the worker on TikTok, and started a GoFundMe fundraiser to help the woman "enjoy the retirement she deserves."

"I saw her and God led me to take a video of her and I wasn't sure why. I drove home and posted it, and it got over $100k in less than 24 hours of posting," Green told Storyful.

Green visited the theater again Sunday, but the woman, who was unaware of Green's video and fundraising efforts, wasn't working, Green said.

However, a manager told Green that the employee's name was Mary and that she refused to stop working because she feared "things might go downhill for her" if she stopped.

They also said Mary did a lot of work to support her church and people experiencing homelessness, and that it was possible Mary would refuse to accept the donations, according to Green.

Green then made a plan to present the donations to Mary during her next shift Tuesday, and told followers she would encourage Mary to keep the money and could choose to donate it to charities or people in need.

The update prompted criticism from some commenters, who suggested that funds should be returned to donors if Mary didn’t want to accept them, but Green insisted that Mary would decide what to do with the donations.

On Tuesday, Green returned to the movie theater and finally met Mary, who said she had been "blessed" and would use some of the money to help other people.

"I have been helping a girl and her children, and of course I have seen people on the streets, there's been a lot of people on the streets that I just donated $10, $5 sometimes. Sometimes I have food in the car and they get that," Mary told Green.

Mary also thanked everyone who donated to the GoFundMe.

"I'm overwhelmed and certainly blessed by the Lord and you wonderful people," she said.