Hard Working Burger King Staff Worker, 54, Blessed With R4.9m After Not Missing a Day of Work for 27 Years

• A hard-working 54-year-old man was gifted a goodie bag by his job after serving for 27 years without taking a day off
• The Burger King cook and cashier was grateful for the gesture but when his video went viral, cyber citizens were convinced he was deserving of more
• Kevin Ford's daughter set up a GoFundMe page where netizens have been donating funds for the grandfather to see his grandchildren in New York

A loyal fast food outlet worker put a whole new meaning to dedication in the workplace when he worked 27 years at Burger King without taking a single day off at the chain’s McCarran International Airport location since 1995.

One would assume a big token of appreciation would be awarded to such service, however, 54-year-old cook and cashier, Kevin Ford, was gifted a goodie bag for his commitment and dedication to his job, which spans close to three decades.

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It is reported that the bag contained a movie ticket, sweets, a Starbucks cup, two pens and a few other items. When his story gained traction online, netizens deemed him far worthy of more as they banded together to raise almost R5 million for the hard-working grandfather.

According to IOL, this all started when a video showing Ford proudly displaying the contents of the bag he was given by the fast-food company for his loyalty went viral.

The cyber community was not happy with the company, saying the multi-national company did not care nor appreciate the sacrifices Ford had made to achieve this feat. Ford’s daughter Seryna, then created a GoFundMe page to give her father a proper reward. So far, the fund-raiser has amassed close to $300 000 (R4.8 million).

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Seryna revealed that her father originally began working at this job as a single father when he gained custody of her and her older sister 27 years ago. She wrote the family was in “no way” asking for money, “but if anyone feels like blessing him, he would love to visit his grandchildren."

People heeded the call by pouring in donations and the family’s dream came true. The New York Post reported that Ford was flown out to New York City to appear on NBC’s Today Show and was reunited with his grandchildren live on television.

“I haven’t seen my grandkids in over four years, until the other day when ‘The Today Show’ flew me out to New York and I got to see them live on TV. I’ve been crying for all these days as it is and of course, I’m crying live on TV again seeing my grandbabies,” Ford told the outlet.

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As for the money that’s been raised for him, Ford said he doesn’t have any plans to retire or take a vacation just yet and is solely focused on his family.

Hardworking SA man goes from being petrol attendant to successful advocate despite disadvantaged background

In another story, Briefly News reported that after passing his matric with flying colours, Tsatseng Rantso from Daveyton in Ekurhuleni worked as a petrol attendant to make ends meet while studying for a law degree at the University of Johannesburg.

Although determined to realise his dream, the young man faced a lot of ridicule as many told the petrol attendant that he was where he was because he did not study.

"We were not poor but we were struggling. Luckily, my matric results helped me get into university and I didn’t have to worry about fees. I enrolled at the University of Johannesburg to study law and worked as a petrol attendant so that I could eat. No one knew that I was studying whilst I was working at the petrol station and I faced a lot of negativity," he shared in a LinkedIn post by Zoza Valentine.

Source: Briefly News