Family raises $264K for Domino’s driver who fell while delivering pizza
A delivery driver who put her body on the line for pizza has been rewarded with a generous $264,000 tip.
In early February, Barbara Gillespie was delivering a Domino’s pizza to a family in South Carolina when she fell and injured herself.
According to the family, the dedicated 72-year-old delivery driver was more concerned about the state of the food rather than herself.
“I open the door and there she is just laying on the ground trying to get up,” Kevin Keighron, the homeowner, told “Good Morning America.” “She was more worried about [the food] than anything else. And I was like, ‘I don’t care about the food. I care about you.’ ”
Gillespie’s slip was caught on the family’s security camera and was posted on TikTok, which was viewed more than 16 million times. In the clip she can be seen falling into a chair at the front of the house, then apologizing when someone comes out to check on her.
Keighron and his wife Lacey Klein, set up a GoFundMe so they could leave an extra large “tip” for Gillespie, who has been working at Domino’s for five and a half years. They have raised over $264,000 so far.
“We thought we would get her a bigger tip and bring it to her. We never expected to get as much as we did,” said Klein. “We were just so excited and thrilled [to] be able to tell her the next day.”
Gillespie said she was overwhelmed by the generosity of those who donated, admitting she “almost gave up on people” because they can be “so mean.”
“And here we got people loving, caring people,” she gushed. “They care about someone else … about an elderly woman.”
In the US, workers retiring later is becoming more common. A Gallup Poll revealed the average reported retirement age is up to 61, and those yet to retire had increased their target age to 66, compared to 60 in 1995.
Domino’s told “Good Morning America” that Gillespie is a dedicated worker and was recognized within the company for her work.
“Barbara is a beloved member of our family and she was recently honored with Team Member of the Year for 2022 within the company,” a spokesperson said in a statement. “She is also a favorite of our customers and always has a smile on her face.”
Gillespie told ABC News that she now plans to retire and handed in her two week notice to Domino’s on Feb. 8.
The Post has reached out to Domino’s for comment.