His moving story inspired the most successful GoFundMe campaign ever in IL, the proceeds from which were given to Sanchez Wednesday. A man who saw Sanchez pushing his cart through the neighborhood started a GoFundMe campaign to help him pay his bills.
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Fidencio Sanchez, 89, returned to work with his popsicle cart after his daughter died and his grandsons were left in his care. Sanchez pushed a paleta cart up to a row of microphones before the GoFundMe organizers, Joel Cervantes and Jose Loera, presented him with a large check – literally. The original fundraising goal was $3,000. Sanchez will be presented with a check at a special ceremony Wednesday afternoon.
In 11 days, 17,447 people donated funds to his family, gathering a total of $384,290.
Cervantes took a photo of Sanchez before stopping to buy 20 paletas and giving him $50. “I’m pretty sure he’s not going to rent anymore”, Cervantes said. “It keeps him young”. But Sanchez’s story of hard work became a “worldwide message” about how Latinos provide for people, work and help the economy. Joel Cervantes took that first picture, posted it to social media and set up the GoFundMe campaign. For now, they and those who helped them are content to know they no longer have to worry about making ends meet. “It gave a small glimpse as to how hundreds of thousands of people his age are still working in America, trying to make ends meet”.
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As far as what the couple plans to do with the money, a lawyer for the Sanchezes said they will be working with a financial planner to look at their options. DNAInfo reporter Kelly Bauer tells us about his story and what’s been called the largest GoFundMe campaign in IL.
