Don Silvino is a 90-year-old Mexican immigrant determined to stay active by riding his tricycle to collect aluminum cans that he trades in for cash.
Silvino lives with his daughter in Salt Lake City and doesn’t really need the can money to survive, but his tricycle means a lot to him because it allows him to be out and doing something, according to Jorge Fierro. Fierro is a friend of Silvino's daughter and a concerned member of the Mexican community in downtown Salt Lake City.
“He’s just a father who worked hard in Zacatecas, Mexico, and his daughters live here in Utah, so when he came here he didn’t want to be sitting on a couch all day long,” Fierro said. “So, for him it’s more an exercising option for him to be active on a regular basis.”
Silvano rides a tricycle because he has a hard time balancing on a bicycle and a fall could have devastating effects on his 90-year-old body. His particular tricycle also has a basket between the back wheels where he can keep his aluminum can haul.
“That’s the reason little kids start learning with a tricycle because it’s easier so we talk about that’s how you begin your life and that’s how you end your life,” Fierro said.
Silvino was leaning over to pick up a few aluminum cans in Jordan Park on Nov. 12 when a woman hopped on his nearby tricycle and rode off.
Everyone in the downtown Salt Lake Mexican community knows who Silvino is and many even save their cans to give to him when he comes by. When community members heard his tricylce was stolen, many were angry and wanted to help.
Fierro was coming home from the gym when Silvino’s daughter called him and told him what happened. Determined to help Silvino find his tricycle, Fierro posted a picture of Silvino on his tricycle to Facebook and pleaded for his friends' help.
Jorge Robles, a friend of Fierro, saw the picture and suggested they start a GoFundMe account asking for the $750 required to replace the tricycle.
Less than 24 hours after opening the account, they had enough money to purchase Silvino a replacement tricycle. As of Tuesday morning, the fund has raised over $2,700.
Fierro said that they are considering getting Silvino hearing aids with the leftover money.
"He is and has been a very hard-working person as someone who was born and raised in Mexico and someone at the age of 90 who is showing us that with determination that there is stuff to do," Fierro said. "He refuses to sit down and watch TV all day. He’s a very active 90-year-old and a very healthy man and someone that truly is an inspiration for the new generations and for everybody. At that age, he’s still riding around and trying to find something fun to do and make a buck at it."