Kenny Jary spends his days interacting with the folks of Mahtomedi, Minnesota. The 79-year-old Navy veteran uses a mobility scooter to get around town, so when it broke he was at a loss.
His neighbor and friend, Amanda Kline, shared his story on TikTok and the two hoped that maybe they would be able to raise a few hundred dollars for a new scooter.
But strangers from all over surprised them. More than $110,000 was raised, more than enough to buy a new scooter for Jary.
So he decided to pay it forward and help out his fellow veterans.
“I was going to the coffee shop and my scooter wasn’t working right,” Jary told KARE11. “Something was wrong.”
According to a GoFundMe, Jary’s scooter was beyond repair because parts were no longer made for his 2003 model.
“He was so sad and upset, I just decided to post a little video,” Kline said. “Honestly, I was thinking, if we got lucky, maybe he’d get like a hundred dollars off a scooter or something.”
But within a short amount of time, Jary and Kline realized how much people loved the Navy veteran.
Within hours enough money had been donated for Jary to purchase two scooters.
“I didn’t think it would get $1,000,” Jary said. “Look what happened? I am so honored. My angels took care of me.”
The donations kept coming. By the time Kline closed the fundraiser, more than $111,000 had been donated.
With the money, Jary purchased two mobility scooters, one portable and one that’s heavy duty.
He was recently surprised with the portable scooter.
“It’s the nicest gift I ever had in my whole life,” he said. “It’s $10 million to me. It’s so fancy.”
Even after purchasing two scooters and using some of the money for medical expenses, paying off debt, and moving into a safer home, Jary decided he wanted to purchase scooters for 10 veterans.
After receiving countless nominations, Kline wrote on his GoFundMe that he would give away 25 scooters.
Kline also started another GoFundMe in hopes of raising even more money to donate even more scooters to deserving veterans. The second fundraiser has already raised more than $20,000.
This made me tear up. It warms my heart when a community comes together to support one of their own, especially when that person is a veteran.
It’s even more special when that person pays it forward.
Kenny, you’re an inspiration.
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