Friday, 04 July 2025

Viral Video Sparks $20,000 in Donations for Ice Cream Vendor Who Walks Miles in the Florida Heat


Don Tomas waving with thanks – credit, Beryenis Lopez

For anyone who suggests that social media has been a net-negative for society, tell them to spend 3 hours reading GoFundMe stories.

GNN has reported on literally dozens of these internet crowdfunding efforts that have changed people’s lives, and the latest one comes from the sizzling South Florida summer heat.

Don Tomas is a local ice cream seller who pushes a cart because he can’t afford a van. Recently, a resident in a community Tomas frequents saw him pushing his cart down a divided highway miles from anywhere, and decided to just hand over some money as a thank you gesture for that work ethic.

Captured on TikTok, this simple gesture of kindness went viral, garnering 20,000 shares, 6,700 comments, and close to a million likes.

“I always get ice cream from him, omgg I didn’t know he walks that far there’s no way,” said one commenter.

The video’s author, Beryenis Lopez, decided to set up a GoFundMe to channel that viral positivity towards their beloved local ice cream vender, and the results were more than sweet.

“Everyone locally knows and loves Don Tomas for his hard work and dedication, selling ice cream for many years,” Lopez wrote on the GoFundMe page.

@wavyybergy1 it made me so emotional see this man walk in the heat with his little ice cream trailer , help your local vendors their just trying to make it by 🥺🤲🏼❤️‍🩹#proudimmigrantdaughter #standtogether #fyp #helponeanother ♬ sonido original - 🎵LYRICS🎵

“He’s a beloved part of our community, and he deserves to have better conditions. I’ve created this GoFundMe in hopes we can raise enough money to give to him for transportation and maybe a new ice cream trailer.”

The fundraiser has amassed $30,000 of its $35,000 goal.

“Despite his age and everything going on around us, Mr. Don Tomas maintains a hard-working man!”

SWEETEN Social Media Up With This Story Of Kindness Towards Our Fellow Man…


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