Bartolo Huate Pacheco is a popsicle vendor, also known as a paletero. He was so moved by Damian Villanueva's gesture, he was brought to tears in the video. Nearly two weeks later, he still gets emotional thinking about that day.
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Pacheco has been selling popsicles in his neighborhood near El Salvador Park for 14 years. Villanueva remembers watching him work hard day after day.
"I always had in my mind: one day I'm going to do something for this guy," Villanueva said.
Now a barber, Villanueva came through for the longtime popsicle vendor. The viral video shows Villanueva cutting Pacheco's hair and the two having a nice conversation.
Pacheco has been through a lot. He's been robbed four times while working. He's lost loved ones during the pandemic, and after beating COVID-19 himself he couldn't work for two months.
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But Pacheco knows his opinion matters when Villanueva listens to him and asks for his advice.
"People don't want to work forever. They want to live life after, too, so I wanted to help him," Villanueva said.
Inspired by Pacheco's reaction, Villanueva said he was starting a GoFundMe account to help other street vendors.
Editor's note: This story was originally published on July 14, 2022.