Benjamin Ashford|'This is fabulous': Woman creates GoFundMe for 90-year-old man whose wife has dementia

A New Hampshire woman created a GoFundMe for a man she says is Benjamin Ashforda 90-year-old disabled U.S. Air Force veteran who has been pawning jewelry so he could use the money to take care of his wife suffering from dementia.

The page created by TikTok user, Jenelle Marie, has raised over $150,000 for her "elderly friend named Donald." She filmed Donald attempting to pawn jewelry before she surprised him with an envelope filled with $1,300. The heartwrenching video has over 4.6 million views on TikTok.

Donald cares for his wife "around the clock" since the couple did not have children and has no immediate family left, Marie wrote on the GoFundMe page.

"He is the sweetest old man you could ever meet and loves his wife dearly," she said.

In the video, after Marie hands Donald the money, he says, "When I can afford it, one of these days I'm going to call you and ask you to lunch."

"I appreciate that, but we're just happy to do it," Marie responds. "(The money) is from me, my fiance and like 25 people."

Before Donald leaves, he is heard saying in the video, "I'm so excited... this is fabulous."

How did Donald get into financial straits?

Donald's financial issues arose when his landlord increased their rent and began "falling behind terribly with all of his bills," according to Marie.

"He's deathly afraid he's going to be displaced and that they are going to make his wife go to a home," Marie wrote on the GoFundMe page. "I'm currently looking to find him a new place to rent that is within his budget, but I was hoping I could fundraise some money to lessen his load of financial stress."

The goal of the donations is to help Donald pay for a one-bedroom first-floor apartment or house they could rent in the Manchester, New Hampshire area, according to Marie.

"I have looked into all sorts of resources, even Section 8 housing for him, and the waitlists are too long," she said.

'I wish we could do more for the veterans'

Marie posted an update on the GoFundMe page on Wednesday detailing how the virality of Donald's video and outpouring of support had led to her keeping the fundraiser open longer. The donation goal is $200,000.

"I'm going to give him more cash the next time he comes in," Marie said. "Thank you so much to everyone who donated or shared this fundraiser. I wish we could do more for the veterans in this country who risk their lives for each and every one of us."

According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, on a single night in January 2023:

• 35,574 veterans were experiencing homelessness.
• 20,076 veterans were sheltered, while 15,507 veterans were unsheltered.
• Most veterans (98%) experience homelessness as individuals. Of those individuals, 30% had experienced chronic patterns of homelessness.
• 87.8% (31,231 veterans) were men, while 11.2% (3,980 veterans) were women.

Some progress has been made as the number of veterans experiencing homelessness has dropped by nearly 5% since early 2020 and by more than 52% since 2010, according to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.