Community Rallies To Buy Ice Cream Truck For Beloved Tampa Vendor Walking Miles In Summer Heat

June 23, 2025

Today's good news story comes from Tampa, Florida.

A heartwarming moment of kindness has gone viral—and turned into real-life change—for a local ice cream vendor.

@wavyybergy1

Don Tomas, known affectionately in his community for his years of dedication and hard work, was recently seen pushing a heavy ice cream freezer down the road in the sweltering Florida summer heat.

The sight moved TikToker @wavyybergy1, who filmed a short video of Tomas and shared it on social media. The clip quickly captured millions of hearts.

“Recently, I posted a video of Mr. Tomas on TikTok walking down the road with his ice cream truck in this Florida summer heat, so we decided to turn around and donate a few dollars,” she wrote. “But what made it even more special was seeing how many people recognized him. Everyone locally knows and loves Don Tomas for his hard work and dedication, selling ice cream for many years. He’s a beloved part of our community, and he deserves to have better conditions.”

The overwhelming response to the video inspired her to launch a GoFundMe campaign with the goal of raising funds for Tomas to have his own ice cream truck or trailer—something that would allow him to continue his work in safer, more comfortable conditions.

The internet responded in a big way.

In just one week, nearly 2,000 people donated, and the campaign raised $30,000. Thanks to the power of community and compassion, Tomas will soon be able to keep doing what he loves—bringing joy and frozen treats to his neighborhood—without having to walk miles in the heat.

A simple act of kindness became a movement. And once again, the internet proved: humanity cares.