While the internet can be a generally frustrating and soul-crushing place, it can also restore your faith in humanity. A recent GoFundMe campaign aimed at helping a hardworking Latino man smashed its initial goal because of so many people’s generosity. When Joel Cervantes Macias drove through the Little Village area in Chicago, he saw Fidencio Sánchez, an elderly man, struggling to push a paleta cart. “It broke my heart seeing this man that should be enjoying retirement still working at this age,” he wrote. “I had to pull over and took this picture. I then bought 20 paletas and gave him $50 and said God bless him and drove away.”
He posted the picture on Facebook page, where many people expressed interest in helping him. So Joel started a GoFundMe page this week, where he explained that Fidencio and his wife’s daughter recently died. She was their main support system, so on top of grieving, they had to find a way to support themselves. So they both started selling paletas, but the burden solely fell on him after his wife became ill.
Initially, Joel asked people to pitch in whatever they could to raise $3,000 for the couple. But the heartbreaking story has resonated with people all over. In just 17 hours, people have donated $50,000 for Fidencio and his wife. And people continue to open their wallets for this cause, with no signs of it slowing down. You can donate here.
September 10, 2016 at 5 p.m.: Learn more about Fidencio and his family below:
[H/T Gozamos]