From Woman's Day

Recently, Joel Cervantes Macias was driving around Chicago, his hometown, when he spotted an elderly man pushing a paleta (a.k.a. popsicle)-cart. He stopped the car to snap a picture and greet the hardworking man.

The elderly man was 89-year-old Fidencio Sanchez, and he was selling paletas in order to make ends meet. His wife used to sell paletas, too, but she fell ill and can't work anymore, leaving Fidencio on his own. To make matters worse, the couple recently lost their only daughter, and both are still reeling from the pain. Moved by Fidencio's story, Joel bought 20 popsicles for $50 and got back in his car. Later, Joel posted Fidencio's photo and story on Facebook, and after an overwhelming response, he and his friend Joe Loera decided they wanted to do more. They started a GoFundMe page in the hopes of raising $3,000 for the elderly man and his ill wife.

Shortly after the crowd-funding page was posted, their efforts went viral. Strangers across the globe were so moved by the story that close to 13,000 people donated over $270,000 in under a week.

In a recent GoFundMe update, Joel said he and Joe will be gifting Fidencio and his wife the life-changing sum of money in the upcoming days. "The Sanchez family really appreciates all the love and support that they are receiving from people from all around the world," he wrote. According to WGN, Fidencio is "very grateful and very happy" for the money.

(h/t BoredPanda)

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