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‘No one your age should have to clean up our messes’: High school students raise over $270,000 for their 80-year-old janitor so he can FINALLY retire, after a rent hike forced him to return to work
- The janitor, referred to only as Mr. James, works at Callisburg High School, Texas.
- He had been enjoying his retirement, but was forced to go back to work last month.
- But three students created a GoFundMe page to raise money for the custodian.
A group of students have raised more than $270,000 so their 80-year-old school janitor can retire.
Greyson Thurman, Marti Yusko and Banner Tidwell created the campaign for the school janitor, referred to only as Mr. James, at Callisburg High School in Texas.
He had been enjoying his retirement, but was forced to go back to work in January after a rent increase.
The trio rode a GoFundMe Page with the original goal of $10,000 to temporarily cover rent, food, and monthly bills, but the response has been overwhelming.
Greyson Thurman, Marti Yusko and Banner Tidwell (pictured with janitor) created the campaign for the school janitor, referred to only as Mr. James, at Callisburg High School in Texas.
Mr. James (pictured) had been enjoying his retirement but was forced to go back to work in January following a rent increase.
James was forced to take the job as a school janitor last month after his rent increased by about $400.
But seeing his return made the trio of students uncomfortable.
“It’s so sad to see an 80-year-old have to do things that no 80-year-old should have to do,” Banner said. KXII.
The trio decided to launch a fundraiser on February 15 which read: ‘I’m going to organize a fundraiser for our janitor who is having a hard time paying rent.
‘He had to leave retirement to continue paying his rent that was raised. Just a little bit will change his life!
Along with the fundraiser, Greyson also posted a TikTok to his 2,000 followers encouraging people to donate.
Along with the fundraiser, Greyson also posted a TikTok to his 2,000 followers encouraging people to donate.
The campaign, which concluded today, received $270,905 from more than 8,600 donors.
The clip, which has so far been viewed 24,000 times, showed the school’s janitor pushing his cleaning cart through the halls.
It was overlaid with text that read: ‘This is our 80-year-old janitor who had his rent raised and had to go back to work. Let’s help Mr. James.
She added in the caption: “My classmates and I hate seeing Mr. James here, no one his age should have to be cleaning up our messes to keep living.”
And donations soon came flying in, reaching the goal of $10,000 in just 12 hours.
The campaign, which concluded today, received $270,905 from more than 8,600 donors.
Mr. James was forced to take the job as a school janitor at Callisburg High School last month after his rent increased by around $400.
FEMAIL has contacted the school to ask if the school’s janitor, Mr. James, will retire now.
Marti told the outlet: “It’s crazy to see something that, we knew people would want to help, but we didn’t know it would blow up.”
In an update posted to the page on February 23, Greyson shared a photo of the trio with the janitor, saying, “Thank you so much to everyone who has donated and spread the word to help Mr. James.”
“You all have had a huge impact on him that will forever change his life.”
He concluded: ‘God bless you all!
Director Jason Hooper told KXII: “It’s just amazing. You know of the need that was met by three kind children, but of all of our students who have pitched in to help fill that need.’
FEMAIL has contacted the school to ask if Mr. James will now retire.