It’s perfectly understandable if 2026 hasn’t been off to a great start for you.
However, here’s a story that will warm your heart and restore your faith in humanity.
A 92-year-old woman from Florida, who needed to return to work after retiring, received significant support this month, raising an astonishing $94,928 through community donations.
Muriel Connick was working in the dressing room at a Burlington store in Pompano Beach, near Fort Lauderdale, when she caught the attention of customer April Steele.
April told WKYT: “There was no smile on her face. In fact she looked angry, I thought I would compliment her to try to make her smile, I said good for you to still be working, she looked at me angrily and said would you want to work at 92.
“My heart sank, she said her pension and food stamps have been cut and she had no choice. I almost felt tears coming.”
Muriel explained that she had to return to work due to mounting bills.
Expenses for ‘the rent, car payment, car insurance, telephone, electricity and cable’ were piling up, leaving her with no alternative but to resume working.
She mentioned that her social security and other benefits were insufficient to cover her expenses. To add to her challenges, Muriel needed renovations on her mobile home, including a new floor, as her current one was deteriorating and becoming a safety hazard.
After talking with Muriel, April took action and shared Muriel’s situation on a local Facebook page.
She created a GoFundMe campaign, which is nearing an impressive $100,000, as the community has rallied to support her. Hopefully, this will be sufficient for Muriel to enjoy a peaceful retirement in South Florida.
A fellow employee posted on the GoFundMe page, describing Muriel as ‘nice and incredibly strong’.
“I worked with Muriel for almost 2 years and I can not even begin to describe how nice and incredibly strong she is,” they continued.
The co-worker noted that Muriel always puts in extra effort, ensuring clothes are displayed properly in the store.
They also mentioned that Muriel attempted to get financial help from her employer to repair the pipes under her home affecting her flooring but was denied assistance. The reason for the denial is unclear.
They said: “I helped her complete an application to the assistance fund through Burlington because her pipes are broken under her trailer and it’s causing the the floors to break which is a major falling hazard for her. She was unfortunately denied that help.”
Speaking to CBS 12, Muriel expressed her amazement at people’s generosity, saying: “People have been so generous.
“I was really surprised, and I didn’t know she was going to do all this.
“I thought she was just going to give me a card and say, ‘This is to help you.’”
Many stories don’t end happily, but Muriel and April have formed a heartwarming bond. The two were seen celebrating together when the donations were announced, so hopefully, everything ends well for Muriel.
April expressed hope that her new friend will not only be able to fix her home but also retire soon with the funds raised.
So, maybe there’s hope for us yet!
You can contribute to this meaningful cause by clicking here.