Fast Food Journey
A fast food worker in Minnesota, who walked four miles daily to reach his jobs at Dairy Queen and Chipotle, finally received a car from generous friends dubbed his “Angels.”
Rodolfo DePaz, a cashier residing in Roseville, is now navigating the streets in a 2000 Buick Century after years of commuting on foot. “They are angels to me,” DePaz expressed, reflecting on the kindness he’s received.
DePaz, originally from El Salvador, is a father of two in the U.S. on a work visa. He keeps his expenses low to prioritize paying rent and supporting his family back home.
His former coworker, Emily Handerscheid, shared that DePaz often worked 80 hours a week and sent most of his income back to his family while juggling bills both in the U.S. and in El Salvador.
With limited savings, DePaz had been relying on walking to work, which was no small feat. He typically woke up before 5:30 a.m. and trekked to Chipotle for his morning shift, then hopped over to Dairy Queen in the afternoon.
On the days he picked up extra shifts, walking part of the way became part of his routine. Handerscheid later extended an invitation for dinner, and even gifted him a bike to ease his commute.
Still, the walks totaled around 4.5 miles daily, making it clear how dedicated he was. “I walk all the time,” he noted matter-of-factly.
DePaz’s life took a positive turn when he befriended the Hindersheids, who not only invited him to family occasions but also welcomed him into their Bible study group, where he unexpectedly received a significant gift.
“I just said, thank God for listening to me,” he reflected on how things changed for the better.
The owner of the local Dairy Queen praised DePaz as an incredibly hardworking employee and aided him in starting the legal process for bringing his family to the U.S. Todd Nelson, the operations director, noted how he couldn’t recall a time when DePaz wasn’t present for his shifts, even through the harshest weather conditions. “It’s snowing, and people in cars are late, and here we have Rodolfo,” he remarked, illustrating DePaz’s dedication.
