Woman raises $84,000 after sharing heartbreaking story of 94-year-old man on wheelchair
A 28-year-old woman shared the heartbreaking story of a 94-year-old street vendor. After the story had gone viral, she was able to raise more than $84,000. She said the man reminded her of her old parents, and she does not want to see them living the same life as his.
The old man broke into tears
While walking in Santa Ana, California, Kenia Barragan came upon an elderly man selling tamales. She decided to give him a few bucks and a Mexican sandwich after seeing the street vendor's tiresome look in his wheelchair. Apart from that, she also gave a compassionate ear to his heartbreaking story.
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After receiving simple gifts from Barragan, the man broke down in tears. Little did he know that there is more to come.
Reminded of old parents
The young woman said that she thought of her parents when she first saw Jose Villa Ochoa. She told KTTV News that she felt for the elderly man because her parents are both older. She explained that she would hate to see her dad selling tamales for somebody to make a living.
The street seller "Don Joel" explained that he wanted a job, but no one wants to hire him because of his old age. He started to sell tamales cooked by a local woman to earn money. The local woman would give him a cut of the earnings at the end of the day, allowing him to buy food. However, the money was not enough to buy his medications or even a phone.
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Shared the story online
After happily listening to the old man's story, Barragan wanted to do more. She sought the help of her Instagram followers by sharing the tamales vendor's sad story. Within a week, she was able to raise more than $84,000.
Besides raising Don Joel's retirement fund, she bought a new wheelchair and shiny shoes for him. Ochoa said that he feels 40 now because the "life-changing" kindness has made him feel alive.
Barragan's goal in life
Barragan also feels the same way. She said that she has always been looking for a purpose to help others. The young woman shared that she has been living in line with those values in her current job while getting transportation for people with disabilities. She wants to establish a homeless shelter as a goal.
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She is hoping that the story she shared could inspire other people to care for their communities, apart from donating money. Listening or talking to someone who needs to open up would be more meaningful. You might not know, but it could change their lives.
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