15,000 People in 52 Countries Donate $330,000 So Elderly Popsicle Man Can Retire

CHICAGO, IL — The sympathy began with a simple photograph and a stranger's desire to put some money into the pockets of a struggling, elderly popsicle vendor in Chicago. How much money? A few thousand dollars would go a long way.

In just a few days, however, the generosity swelled to more than a quarter of a million dollars.

As of Wednesday, donations from 15,225 people in 52 countries topped $330,000. This is now the largest GoFundMe effort ever in Illinois.

Fidencio Sanchez, a slight-but-sturdy man of 89, has won a lottery of the heart — and he is overwhelmed.

Every day, the paletero pushes a frozen-treat street cart on the sidewalks of his Little Village neighborhood in Chicago. He stocks up with a few hundred popsicles, called paletas, and selling them brings him a few bucks a day. On a good day, he might earn $50. On a sweltering hot day, maybe $80.

He's been the neighborhood ice cream man since 1993. Sanchez retired this summer, but when his daughter died and his wife Eladia fell ill, Sanchez was forced to go back to work.

Joel Cervantes Macias just wanted to help. As the Wisconsin restaurant owner drove through the Chicago neighborhood where he was born and raised, Cervantes spotted the old man. He stopped, bought 20 paletas and handed over $50.

“It broke my heart seeing this man that should be enjoying retirement still working at this age,” Cervantes later wrote on GoFundMe.

He snapped a photograph — a striking portrait of the hunched, elderly man pushing the heavy cart — and posted the image to his Facebook page. It was shared 400 times. A friend, Joe Loera, decided they should do do more. He wrote a moving plea on GoFundMe and asked for $3,000.

That photo, now seen coast to coast, moved people to donate far more — 100 times more as of Sept. 14.

"Mr. Fidencio Sanchez and his wife recently lost their only daughter and are still heartbroken about the situation. His elderly wife was selling paletas also to help pay bills, but she fell ill and can't work anymore. We're trying to raise money to help him with whatever we can. Anything helps. Let's all pitch in and help make life a little easier and brighten both of their day."

By Sunday, they'd blown past their $3,000 goal and had $100,000 for Sanchez. Some people gave $5. Others gave as much as $2,000. The campaign has been shared 105,000 times.

The next day, Cervantes appeared on local television.

By Monday afternoon, the GoFundMe grew to $150,000.

That night, the story was all over national television. And by Tuesday afternoon, the "Relief for Fidencio" GoFundMe had grown to $280,000. And still, the fund kept climbing. As of noon on Wednesday, the fund was at $330,000.

"To all the immigrants who work their knees off to make a better life for themselves and their families. Keep your heads up!" wrote Carla Cubria Tuesday as she gave $25.

The photograph that inspired this outpouring is iconic. To the man who made the picture, the image speaks to "poverty, struggle, and pride." In an election year that has seen immigrants denigrated and threatened, criticized as a drain on our society, the sympathy for this old man and his plight speaks to a quiet generosity and compassion. Maybe even a silent majority, given how the fundraising effort ballooned so rapidly.

Cervantes, who owns a Mexican restaurant in Stockton, Wisconsin, updated the GoFundMe page to let the generous donors know what will happen next.

The Sanchez family really appreciates all the love and support that they are receiving from people from all around the world. Joe Loera and myself appreciate all the kind words that we are receiving. It was all a team effort. I'm really trying to respond to every single kind message that I am receiving in my inbox and on Facebook. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you to all the people who tag me and have nice things to say. I wish I can respond to every single one of you. I'm trying. Lol! GOD IS GOOD."

People are asking when we will disburse the funds. We originally thought Thursday or Friday, but we're going to keep going over the weekend. We still have a lot of legalities we have to take care of. We never thought it would get this big so we really have to cross our T's and dot our I's.

Still out pushing his popsicle cart last weekend, Sanchez says he likes to work.

"I am very thankful for the men that thought of doing this," Sanchez told the Chicago Tribune in Spanish, his granddaughter, Dulce Perez, interpreting. "I am very thankful for the favor."

And when the money comes his way, what will Sanchez do? The elderly immigrant finally will park his street cart and "rest more at home."

Photos via Joel Cervantes Macias; posted Sept. 13; updated Sept. 14