Substitute Teacher Living In Car Astonished When Former Student Raises $27K To Help Him Get Back On His Feet

Mar 18, 2021

Once students finish school, they move on into the world, having been impacted by their school experiences. Sometimes these experiences are positive and involve teachers that have had a profound influence on them. Occasionally they will see that teacher again one day when they're older, hopefully under fortunate circumstances, while other times the reasons around their meeting may not be so good.

Unfortunately, for one 21-year-old man in Fontana, California, named Steven Nava, it was the latter experience when he ran into his former teacher Jose Villarruel one day in 2021. After Nava noticed a well-dressed older gentleman who happened to be living out of his car, it occurred to him that he knew the man. He eventually realized it was his former teacher "Mr. V" and seeing how he was living absolutely broke his heart.

It turned out the pandemic had put Villarruel under hard times and he was forced to live out of his vehicle. Villarruel was a substitute teacher and the change to remote virtual teaching had greatly impacted his ability to find work. When Nava found out the full story he set out to help Villarruel however he could. After donating some money to him directly, he decided to open up a GoFundMe campaign to help him get back on his feet. Then on Villarruel's 77th birthday, Nava presented him with a check worth $27,000. Not only did a local news station capture the heartwarming event that day, but many of Mr. V's former students also turned up to honor him too. 

The impact of the pandemic has been wide-ranging to people from all over the world. On top of the many tragic casualties, there are many other people who have lost their jobs or had trouble finding work. That was the case for former substitute teacher Jose Villarruel, who is based in Fontana, California. Speaking to Fox 11, Villarruel explained his situation and how he found himself out of work:

"I decided the school situation has changed completely and I believed that a job of a substitute was over. In May, I submitted my resignation. I managed to do all of the paperwork, all of the arrangements to get my pension. I got my check, but that check didn't last long because I had debts already."

With no regular income, Villarruel was forced to adapt to his new situation and ended up living out of his car, an old '90s Thunderbird. Despite the dire circumstances, Villarruel told Fox 11 about having made peace with his situation:

“My body has been adapted to all of the bumps and things from the seat. It serves me as transportation, serves as a dining room, and serves as a bedroom.”

It's understandable that when one no longer has a choice in how to live their life, they are forced to make sense of their new situation. But although Villarruel had resigned himself to living out of his car, someone he once knew wasn't satisfied with his circumstance. That person was one of Villarruel's former students, a local man by the name of Steven Nava.  

Nava was the one who recognized Villarruel in the first place, and after seeing a beloved teacher of his now homeless, Nava decided he had to do something to help him. He told Fox 11, “I usually see him almost every single day and it got me thinking, ‘I’ve got to talk to him and know his situation." He continued:

“I was just devastated and gutted for the reality of the pandemic and how it’s left teachers without a job, and you know 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.”

Nava's first step was to give Villarruel some money from his own pocket, $300 to be exact. But he knew it wasn't a long-term solution. So he decided to make his former teacher a GoFundMe page to help get him back on his feet. Alongside this he told Villarruel's story on social media, on apps such as Twitter and TikTok, to stir up interest in his cause and get as many people to contribute. He wrote on the GoFundMe page:

“Mr.V was a great funny and helpful educator and substitute teacher in the Fontana Unified School District. He’s struggled with getting back on his feet after the pandemic hit and has been living in his car ever since despite the brutal weather and living conditions. This fundraiser is to help him out financially and getting back to normal life. Any help is appreciated, thank you god bless.” 

Nava's strategy worked, and Villarruel's story went viral — even the mayor of Fontana got involved. Donations came in from former students and kind strangers, with Nava telling Fox 11 about his strategy:

“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."

Incidentally, March 11 was Villarruel's 77th birthday, so Nava decided it was the right time to pass on the donations that had come from the GoFundMe campaign. They created a small ceremony that was attended by many of Villarruel's former students and there he was presented with a check for $27,000. Naturally, Villarruel was stunned, telling Fox 11 reporters:

“My initial thought was, ‘Am I dreaming?’ I still can’t get over this experience."

Seeing how many people came together to help him while he was in a time of need, inspired Villarruel to think of ways he can give back to others. He said:

“The greatest feeling that I have right now is like an obligation that I need to do a lot for the world yet. And the greatest feeling is I can do it and I’m going to find ways of doing it.”

What a powerful thing to see that the many years in which Villarruel put in work inspiring and helping his students through education, eventually came back to help him at a time when he really needed it. What's more, even at the age of 77, Villarruel is determined to keep giving back once again to others who are in need. We wish all the best to Villarruel and to Nava for his generous fundraising effort. 

What do you think of this heartwarming story in which a student helped out his former teacher in a time of need? Have you ever witnessed anything similar? Be sure to pass this moving story on so that Jose Villarruel's story can be heard by many.