BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) - Indiana University students have raised thousands of dollars for a convenience store cashier whose daughter in Venezuela has internal bleeding and needs surgery she cannot afford.
Oscar Arreaza, 67, is a cashier at a convenience store inside the university’s McNutt Residence Hall. He began using a shoebox to collect donations to help pay for his daughter’s medical expenses, The Indianapolis Star reported .
“I always try to help her as much as I can,” Arreaza said.
His daughter Mariana, 38, is a single mother without insurance, so she can’t afford the surgery, Arreaza said.
Freshman Becca Richter heard about the situation and decided to help with fundraising efforts. She began by contacting her Pi Beta Phi sorority and the message quickly spread.
A group of students surprised Arreaza at the end of his shift Wednesday and presented him with a $3,000 donation from the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity.
“I was so touched, I started crying,” Arreaza said. “I felt the love of the students.”
Richter raised more than $9,500 through Venmo, a mobile payment service. A GoFundMe account has also been created to take donations. Richter said she plans to give Arreaza those funds on May 4, which is the last day of the university’s spring semester and Arreaza’s birthday.
The donations keep coming in because of Arreaza’s kindness, Richter said.
“He makes everyone feel like you’re his best friend,” she said. “It’s a type of positivity you definitely don’t see day to day anymore.”
___
Information from: The Indianapolis Star, http://www.indystar.com
Please read our comment policy before commenting.