A WELL-WISHER has raised more than US$100,000 to aid an elderly man after seeing the 89-year-old street vendor struggling to push his cart of frozen treats.

    Joel Cervantes Macias was driving through the Little Village area in Chicago on Thursday when he saw Fidencio Sanchez having a hard time pushing his paleta cart.

    Macias, a Mexican restaurant owner who grew up in Chicago but now lives in Wisconsin, said the sight of Sanchez broke his heart, noting he thought the vendor should be enjoying retirement at his age.

    He took a photo of Sanchez and posted it to Facebook with the caption: “I respect this man to the fullest! #workflow #dyingbreed #mexicano #migente.”

    Macias then bought 20 paletas from Sanchez for US$50 before driving away.

    After his photo of Sanchez captured the hearts of hundreds, he decided to start a Gofundme page, with the help of a friend, to help make life a little easier for Sanchez and his wife, Eladia.

    Sanchez has spent years selling paletas, pushing his cart for several hours each day, earning just US$50 to US$60 a day, according to DNAinfo Chicago.

    He had retired two months ago but returned to work after their only daughter died in July. Sanchez’s wife also had become ill and was unable to sell paletas anymore to help pay bills.

    Macias started the Gofundme campaign Friday with the goal of raising just US$3,000.

    But by Sunday evening, they had raised more than US$115,000 by donations from more than 5,600 people.

    Sanchez learned of the fundraiser during while at church Saturday morning, Gustavo Gutierrez, who supplies Sanchez’s cart, told DNAinfo.

    “He’s taking it with a lot of love,” Gutierrez said of Sanchez’s reaction after learning about the fundraiser. He also noted that Sanchez is a “really hardworking gentleman” who is “always giving.”

    Sanchez said he plans to share the money with his churches back in Mexico and in Chicago and also with his grandchildren, according to Univision Chicago.

    (SD-Agencies)