STRATHAM — Arthur St. John is still out of work, but the 94-year-old Stratham Market Basket bagger showed up at the store Friday to collect a check that he never expected.

STRATHAM — Arthur St. John is still out of work, but the 94-year-old Stratham Market Basket bagger showed up at the store Friday to collect a check that he never expected.



The part-timer who's been working at the store for 22 years received a $7,166 check. It was money raised by generous donors who contributed to an online fundraiser on the crowd funding site GoFundMe.com.



St. John is one of thousands of part-time workers whose hours were slashed as protests continue over the firing of CEO Arthur T. Demoulas.



A resident of Exeter, St. John has been a dedicated employee who misses working his three days a week.



After hearing about his hours being cut, Bonnie Gervais and her teenage son, Christian, of Medway, Mass., created the online fundraiser last week to help him out, but never expected it would raise thousands. Gervais is a part-time worker at a Marker Basket in Massachusetts and never met St. John until Friday when she, her husband, and their son showed up with the bank check.



“Arthur cried two or three times. He was very appreciative,” said assistant store director Dean Clevesy.



The money will help St. John pay his bills. He said he brings home $125 from his Market Basket job.



While he was thankful for the financial support, St. John told Clevesy that all he really wants is to return to work.



“Arthur told me he wants to work another 10 years,” he said.



Many of those who donated to St. John's fund were customers who posted comments about their own personal experiences shopping at the Stratham Market Basket and the service he provided while bagging their groceries.



“I've been shopping at the Stratham store just a few years longer than you've been working there and I've always enjoyed seeing you and appreciate your courtesy. Hope this all gets resolved soon and you get back to enjoying what you love. Thank you, Mr. St. John,” one customer wrote.



Another customer posted: “It is always a joy to see Arthur at the end of the conveyor belt. He is always so sweet to my little son.”