GoFundMe for DoorDash Driver, 78, Nears $1 Million, Only Days After Customer Set Up the Fundraising Page for the Elderly Man

A grassroots fundraising campaign for a 78-year-old DoorDash driver is approaching a historic $1 million milestone, highlighting the stark realities of the American gig economy for seniors.

What began as a viral doorbell camera clip has transformed into a life-altering windfall for Richard Pulley, a Tennessee resident who returned to the workforce out of financial necessity. The GoFundMe campaign, launched by customer Brittany Smith, has nearly doubled its $500,000 mark in less than two weeks.

The surge in donations followed a March 10 delivery at Smith’s home. Doorbell footage captured Pulley, a former insurance salesman, carefully navigating Smith’s front stoop while relying on a handrail to deliver a Starbucks order.

Moved by the sight of the elderly man laboring in the late stages of his life, Smith turned to social media on March 11 to identify him. After a successful search, she established the fundraising page to provide Pulley with a path back to the retirement he had previously enjoyed for 15 years.

The investigation into Pulley’s circumstances reveals a growing trend of “un-retirement” driven by economic pressure. According to corporate statements from DoorDash, Pulley re-entered the workforce over a year ago after his wife, Brenda, lost her job.

Since then, Pulley has maintained a grueling full-time schedule, completing nearly 6,000 deliveries. Brenda frequently joins him on his shifts to assist with the workload.

“He is not working because he wants to,” Smith noted in a recent update to donors. “He’s working because he has to.”

The campaign’s rapid ascent caught the attention of DoorDash executives. The delivery giant confirmed it contributed $20,000 to the fund and provided Smith with a private gift to acknowledge her role in the story.

“Richard’s dedication to supporting himself and his wife is truly inspiring,” a DoorDash spokesperson said in a news release. “We were moved by his story and the outpouring of support from people across the country.”

As of Sunday, the fund continues to climb, fueled by thousands of individual donors. For Pulley and his wife, the intervention marks the end of a year-long struggle to maintain financial stability through manual labor—a narrative that has clearly resonated with a national audience concerned about senior welfare.