The newspaper and magazine kiosk of Marcelo Vetrone, located in front of the Obelisk in the center of the City of Buenos Aires, suffered significant damage during the celebrations for the triumph of the Argentine national team in the final of the Qatar 2022 World Cup, when a tide of millions of people came out to demonstrate to pay tribute to the team championThe newsboy could not be part of the joy and popular fervour of that day. His source of work was lost. seriously damaged, with graffiti, various damages and deterioration of publications. Dozens of people climbed onto the roof throughout the hot day, damaging the structure.
“I feel very bad. What did I do to deserve this? I was really destroyed. What happened to me is abhorrent, I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.", said the experienced owner of the 70-year-old establishment, who saw the National Team obtain its three titles in the World Cup of football. The case was portrayed days ago in an article published in InfobaeMarcelo was used to acts of vandalism against his street kiosk. Cerrito 372, near the epicenter of the usual protests and mobilizations in the City, but according to what he said, he had never seen such a mobilization, euphoria and the harassment that he suffered from those who had climbed onto the roof of his business.
The newsboy's testimony moved a stranger. Ludmila Gregorio, a young teacher and student of 24 years old from the English teaching staff at the National University of Hurlingham (UNAHUR), wanted to help him.
Gregorio searched through his Instagram contacts to see if anyone knew Marcelo, until someone gave him the journalist's username. Infobae Fabian Induti, the author of the note he had read. That's how he reached the newspaper vendor and offered him a hand. “He told me he was devastated and very distressed. So I put together a post with my Instagram contacts, which reached my friends and acquaintances,” “Luli” told this media. “My grandfather is the same age as Marcelo. I thought that if something similar happened to him, I would like someone to help him,” he said.
The newsboy agreed.
Thus, from her personal account @luligregorio on Instagram, Ludmila started a solidarity collection so that Vetrone would have some money to compensate for future expenses, spreading Marcelo's bank details. On the first day, they transferred $50,000 to him, all donations that came from Luli's circle of friends and contacts.
“The idea was to start by helping him, trying to put together something so that it would be less expensive to pay for the entire repair,” said the teacher, who knew it would be difficult to complete the budget. 432,500 pesos required for the repairsThe expert newspaper salesman acknowledged the gesture of solidarity and was moved by the support. “I am very, very grateful. I am ashamed, I am a newspaper salesman. I am not here to beg for alms. I thank you,” Marcelo sent him in an audio recording.
You may be interested in: “What did I do to deserve this?”: The harsh story of a newsboy whose kiosk was destroyed during the celebrations of Argentina becoming champion
Luli, however, continued with the collection. “A lot of people posted the post on Instagram, but I was stuck. That's when it occurred to me”make a Tik Tok', because I knew there were things that went viral. So, I said, let's try to tell the story out there. I spent some time putting the video together, I recorded it like 150 times. I didn't know how to do it," Luli reconstructed.
The publication on the platform was a qualitative leap in the collection. Until last night, 60 thousand people They had seen Luli's video, where she told the story and the request for Marcelo. Marcelo's daughter, with whom Ludmila was always in contact, told her that they had raised about 100 million pesos at the CBU. 330,000 pesos. Luli became bolder. “Don’t let it give up, we’re going for it now,” she challenged.
It was then that hundreds of messages appeared on his Instagram account, where he never stopped sharing posts related to the collection. One of them caught his attention above the rest. The influencer wrote to him:Coscu” (Martín Di Salvo) who joined in solidarity to share the collection to reach the desired goal.
The video on Tik Tok continued to gain views, reaching 230,000 views. This Saturday morning, Marcelo's daughter spoke to Ludmila again and told her what had happened in the last few hours.He tells me 'I can't believe it'. We are at 1,200,000 pesos"She revealed, stunned. They had to take down the videos and stop the collection.
“I never imagined this madness. I thanked Coscu a lot. My daughter and I were talking about what could be done with the money left over, because the budget for repairs was a base. During these days when it was raining, more merchandise was ruined, and with the mobilizations there is always damage, although not at this level. With the money raised, in addition to the repair, something could be recovered and the security of the stand could be improved,” continued the English student.
Several newspaper and magazine kiosks suffered acts of vandalism while the enthusiastic and multitudinous celebrations of Argentina Champion were taking place. Other cases that were known in the area of the Obelisk were Clara and Mario, two newsboys from a street stand on Cerrito 274. It was spread by the Newsboys' Union, headed by Omar Plaini, through social media. In the video, the victims asked for work and for their publications to be purchased.
It is estimated that almost 400 newspaper stands have been damaged this week, after Lionel Messi's team won the World Cup in Qatar, against France. According to Ludmila, the intention is that the surplus of the money raised will be destined to other newsboys that Marcelo knows and are in need of some kind of help.
“I've been glued to the phone for two days, I haven't stopped answering messages and editing videos. I was nervous, I'm happy, excited, trying to get everything done,” Luli celebrated.
Continue reading:
English 
Spanish