A heartwarming reunion between a former high school student and her retired science teacher has sparked an outpouring of support for the educator who has been working to help pay his son’s tuition costs through DoorDash.
Loreiny Penalo was surprised when she opened her door on a Friday night to find her former teacher, Wilmer Melendez, standing there with her food order. The encounter brought back fond memories and moved Penalo, who had always honored her late father’s birthday by ordering Dominican food.
Melendez shared his story of working DoorDash to support his son’s engineering degree, which tugged at Penalo’s heartstrings. As a retired educator himself, Melendez had faced challenges due to a diagnosis of Myasthenia Gravis, but he has since managed his condition with the help of doctors and family support.
Penalo was so touched by their reunion that she decided to share it on social media, which led to an outpouring of suggestions online. She set up a GoFundMe page for Melendez, raising over $41,000 in just a week. The campaign not only helped Melendez but also highlighted the dedication and impact of educators like her own sister, who is also a teacher.
The reunion serves as a reminder that life’s most meaningful connections often come when we least expect them, and that small acts of kindness can have a profound impact on someone’s life.
Source: https://people.com/woman-finds-high-school-teacher-doordash-delivery-exclusive-11693130