A community has stepped up to support a California family that grew by five after a relative died from COVID-19.
It was July when Rico De Alba's brother-in-law succumbed to the disease. He left behind five children between the ages of three and 14.
De Alba and his wife, who live in Los Angeles County, did not hesitate to welcome them into their family of six.
"He was like a brother to me. We are really close, you know any time he needed help, I always help him out. Any time I needed help, we would always reach out to each other," he said.
While it has been a big adjustment, he says they're just trying to make it easy on their nieces and nephews.
"I lost my mother when I was really young and I understand what they're going through. We are not thinking about ourselves right now, we are thinking about the kids," he said.
Having grown up in a family of nine kids, De Alba says he's taught his children to be humble.
"I told them 'you have to appreciate what you have because you never know when you are not going to have anything,'" he said.
Surviving on his bartender job has not been easy, but a GoFundMe page has already raised more than $55,000 to help them out – an outpouring of love he says has been overwhelming.
LISTEN NOW on the RADIO.COM App
Follow RADIO.COM
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
