Pete and Buster receive truck, money donations

Pete Buchmann was overwhelmed almost to the point of tears at a ceremony in his honor Thursday at Faithful Friends Animal Society in Wilmington. Supporters gathered to congratulate the formerly homeless man whose dedication to Buster, his 9-year-old dog, prompted an international outpouring of support that will make it possible for him and Buster to reunite under their own roof Monday.

"I don't know what to say except thank you, thank you all," he said.

The News Journal's story of Buchmann walking 5 miles a day from the Sunday Breakfast Mission to be with Buster and volunteer at the shelter went viral and drew support from across the county as well as China, Italy, England, Canada, Australia and Scotland.

To rounds of applause, Buchmann accepted the keys to the 2003 Mazda pickup truck given to him by Ray and Mary Beth Cichocki, which he will drive Tuesday to his first day of full-time work at Wayman Fire Protection in Wilmington.

He also accepted keys to his new apartment in Newark provided by the Apartment Angels Transitional Housing Project, $500 in Shop Rite gift cards from the Kenny Family Foundation to stock his pantry and a check for $32,000 from Donna Vandenheuvel of Milford, who started a GoFundMe online account that brought the total donated to $34,200.

"Something about the story of Pete and Buster touched me," Vandenheuvel said with tears in her voice. "It's a story that has touched people around the world."

This weekend, Buchmann will "shop" for furniture at the Pettinaro Properties warehouse and at the Ministry for Caring.

"This has all been so wonderful," Buchmann said. "I have to give credit to the Father, Son and the Holy Ghost for bringing me here. Without Faithful Friends I don't know where Buster would be, or where I would be."