GoFundMe Helps Palo Alto Family Of 6 Survive Coronavirus: Report

PALO ALTO, CA – When a neighbor learned a Palo Alto family of six had been plunged into a financial distress after contracting the coronavirus, she launched a GoFundMe page to try to help, and the fundraising drive has already exceeded its goal.

The entire Hernandez became infected with the coronavirus over Thanksgiving weekend, Palo Alto Online reports.

The family had for the most part strictly adhered to COVID-19 guidelines according to the report.

Except for one slip-up.

Zoila Hernandez said her 19-year-old son who works in construction started showing symptoms early last week, and Moizes Hernandez didn’t get tested until the Friday according to the report.

He learned that he’d tested positive within hours and the next day tests on the rest of the family came back positive, the report said.

The Hernandez family learned of the outbreak days before rent was due. Their household doesn’t have stable income according to the report.

With all the family’s wage earners forced to quarantine for at least two weeks, Zoila Hernandez told Palo Alto Weekly she sought financial assistance from the county, but to no avail.

"It's a really, really stressful, painful and depressing time," she said according to the report.

Becky Chan read about the Hernandez family’s plight on NextDoor, and that’s when the Google program manager decided to help.

Her GoFundMe drive launched Sunday with the goal of raising $3,400. As of Thursday morning, it had raised $8,600.

Chan’s plea: “We all know how expensive living in the Bay Area is, and any donations from supporters would surely be appreciated by the Hernandez family.”

Zoila Hernandez, 56, suffers from diabetes, and her husband Jesus Valdivia, has high blood pressure according to the report, comorbidities that increase the risk of developing COVID-19 complications.

She said her entire family is experiencing symptoms from the virus.

But the fundraising drive gives the Hernandez family a fighting chance.

"You hear a lot about these resources that are quote-unquote available for people who need help," Chan told Palo Alto Weekly.

"But until working with Zoila, I didn't really realize how challenging it was to actually navigate and find these resources. Yes, you can Google 'Santa Clara COVID help,' but how you actually get the help is an entirely different story."

HOW TO HELP: Visit the “Hernandez Family Funds - for COVID Quarantine” GoFundMe page

GoFundMe is a Patch partner

Read more at Palo Alto Weekly