Strangers give $146,000 to an 80-year-old cinema cleaner in Maryville, Tennessee

Brooklyn Green was at the AMC in Maryville with her grandparents in June. After the film she noticed an older woman pushing a cleaning cart and emptying the bins, and filmed a few seconds of her.

I just saw her work ethic. She was just working really hard.Brooklyn Green, to WVLT

She put the clip on TikTok with a GoFundMe link, thinking her friends and family might give $500 or so towards the woman’s retirement. More than $100,000 came in on the first day, and about $146,000 within 24 hours.

Green went back to the cinema to find her. She had the day off. A manager told Green her name was Mary, that she had worked in cinemas for more than 45 years, that she liked the job, and that she worried what would happen to her if she stopped. She gives what she can to her church and to people on the street.

Some people online said Green should have asked Mary before raising money in her name. Green said every penny was Mary’s, to spend or give away as she liked.

Mary found out when Green came back on a day she was working and showed her the total on a tablet.

Thank you so very much to all the wonderful people that have donated money. I’m overwhelmed and certainly blessed by the Lord and you wonderful people.Mary, to WVLT

She asked for the fundraiser to be paused. She has more than she could ask for, she said.