Ice-pop-selling 89-year-old receives crowdfunded retirement

A crowdfunding site has been used by more than 17,000 people from around the world to raise $384,000 for an 89-year old grandfather and his orphaned grandchildren.

Chicago resident Fidencio Sanchez had deferred his retirement to bring in money for his two recently orphaned grandchildren.

But when passerby Joel Cervantes saw the 89-year-old pushing a paleta cart through Little Village, he and a friend set up an online fundraiser.

They were hoping to find $3,000 for the hard-working grandfather, but 12 days later 17,447 people from over 60 countries had generated a $384,290 nest-egg for Sanchez's family.

Many left comments and anecdotes about their own positive interactions with Mr. Sanchez.

"So many have helped me. I feel very happy," Sanchez said on September 21, when he and his wife were presented with a check, reports ABC7 Chicago. "I worked because I had to, but my body is no longer strong enough."

Joe Loera, who had helped Cervantes with the GoFundMe campaign, said he "just felt [Sanchez] looked really tired and needed a day off."

"The world came together and gave him a bunch of days off."