Hats Off: Student Raises $27,000 For Homeless Substitute Teacher
Jeff & Aimee are giving a Hats Off to a student in Fontana, California!
Students in the Fontana Unified School District know substitute teacher Jose Villarruel as “Mr. V.”
At the start of the pandemic, Villarruel resigned from his position as schools shifted to virtual and distant learning, according to Fox 11. Since then the 77-year-old had been living in his car.
The friendly substitute would then get major help from former student Steven Nava.
“I usually see him almost every single day and it got me thinking, ‘I’ve got to talk to him and know his situation.’ I was just devastated and gutted for the reality of the pandemic and how it has left teachers without a job and this is one of the results and it’s sad to see one of your own teachers go through that so it only makes you want to help out more,” said Nava, in a Fox 11 interview.
Nava then started a GoFundMe page for Villarruel. Even gifting him $300 of his own money. After sharing his helping hand campaign on TikTok, the video would garner over 1.7 million views.
“It’s just the power of social media is so big now and sometimes we need to use it for good, and not for bad,” said Nava.
In March, people raised $27,000 for Villarruel. Watch the tearful video below:
