It was the largest single donation by an individual in the program’s 17-year history.
“I was completely caught off guard when he handed them to me, and it took me a few seconds to gather my thoughts,” store manager Charles Campbell told CNN. “I finally asked him what his motivation was for this generous gift.”
The veteran told Campbell that he spent two years as a prisoner of war in the Korean War and was rarely fed. That led him to a dangerous weight of 90 pounds. The man said he knew what it’s like not to know where the next meal is going to come from, or when.
When Campbell asked the veteran if he’d like to speak with any of the media representatives at the store’s corporate office, the man said: “I’m not doing this for any publicity or recognition. I just plain and simple don’t want people to be hungry.”