An 89-year old paleta vendor in Little Village, Mexico will receive the $385,290 on Wednesday from the largest GoFundMe campaign in Illinois. Sanchez also told CNN that he is still not sure if he is ready to stop working. He was orphaned at 6 months old, and he was a child laborer since he was 13.
At least 17,500 people contributed from $5 to $2,000 in donations to Fidencio Sanchez, through the online fundraising campaign that was created Sept. 9 by Joel Cervantes, who once bought paletas from Sanchez. "It broke my heart seeing this man who should be enjoying retirement still working at this age," Cervantes said to CNN. Cervantes' photograph of Sanchez has pulled numerous heartstrings that is why the target of $3000 donations was largely surpassed in the first three days. The campaign is the largest in Illinois and also among the top 25 campaigns in the U.S., GoFundMe spokesperson Bobby Whithorne told Chicago Tribune.
Before the campaign, Sanchez and his wife were facing a huge problem. Their daughter, who was taking care of them just died. And so the couple were so worried about their bills. Sanchez did not know where to get money to pay their apartment, electricity, water, and others. Gilberto Bahena, Sanchez's pastor at his neighborhood church, said that those 9,000 people who outpoured the donations were great parts of a miracle from God.
The neighborhood who enjoyed his frozen treats for over 23 years may miss him if he chooses to stop selling under the sun, rain and all seasons. Blanca Gutierrez, Sanchez's boss, said to CNN that the elderly man is among the hardest workers and actually works year-round even in winter time.
The good old man is scheduled to receive all donations at a ceremony that will be held at Paleteria y Neveria Poncho, the ice cream parlor where he pushed his paleta cart from.e
