03/25/2026
BE CAREFUL OUT THERE! "He was recently swindled out of his $300,000 life savings by an ‘investment professional’ who promised to preserve the capital and provide a ‘high monthly rate of return.’ Angel unfortunately trusted the man because he’d been introduced to him by a spiritual advisor. The ‘returns’ lasted only a few months, then the $300,000 vanished along with the investment professional. Angel was left with little legal recourse because it had technically been an ‘investment.’ "
Angel Moreno owns the oldest Vegan restaurant in NYC. He was recently swindled out of his $300,000 life savings by an ‘investment professional’ who promised to preserve the capital and provide a ‘high monthly rate of return.’ Angel unfortunately trusted the man because he’d been introduced to him by a spiritual advisor. The ‘returns’ lasted only a few months, then the $300,000 vanished along with the investment professional. Angel was left with little legal recourse because it had technically been an ‘investment.’
Heartbroken and a bit embarrassed, Angel assumed massive amounts of debt just to keep the restaurant open these last few years. Caravan of Dreams had never just been a business to him. With no children of his own, the restaurant has been his child and life’s purpose. Despite thriving for decades, it never quite recovered after the pandemic and had begun losing money every night, so Angel maxed out his credit cards and exhausted a $150,000 small business loan just to keep the doors open.
Last month he’d reached the end of his rope. At the age of 76, he'd exhausted both his savings and credit, and did not have enough money to pay the rent. He was only able to keep the doors open because of a (miraculous) clerical error by the landlord. Around this time I was introduced to him and learned his story. I shared it on Humans of New York hoping to drum up some foot traffic for the restaurant. (I’ve always loved eating at Caravan of Dreams because it serves the most delicious organic food in the city.)
Along with the story I included a link to an old GoFundMe that Angel had set up after the pandemic. It had only attracted a handful of donors. I didn’t even tell Angel that I was sharing the link, because his debt was so large, and his position was so grave, that I didn’t think a single story would materially change his situation.
But over the past 48 hours, thousands of you contributed nearly $175,000. Angel’s $200,000 debt has almost completely been wiped away, and a huge portion of his life savings have been recovered. Caravan of Dreams can stay open, and Angel now has the opportunity for a peaceful and prosperous final season of his life. Thanks to all of you for collectively becoming this beloved man’s miracle, and extending his belief in magic.
If anyone would still like to contribute, you may do so here: https://bit.ly/4buccUS
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A message of gratitude from Angel:
“In the middle of the chaos there was a miracle. Having been cheated, no money, not sleeping, and all of this stress—I was preparing myself for anything. But part of me was still having hope, that if I could not be affected by all this, and somehow keep my essence, then perhaps the chaos might transform into something beautiful. Eventually the burden grew so heavy that I could not continue, so I asked for help. I started speaking with customers: reaching out to share my misery, my gratefulness, my everything. That was the beginning-- letting go. People started organizing to help out of this situation in any way possible. Thank you to everyone involved in this fundraiser. Thank you to all the people working here, all the suppliers, thank you to the musicians who come here and share their music, thank you to all the customers—everyone coming to Caravan of Dreams is a potential friend. When I start reading comments from people, all the understanding, all the gratitude, all the love and support I was feeling makes me cry. I should even say to the people who cheated me, I learned something from you and I am developing more unconditional love. I do not justify the negativity but unfortunately we must sometimes suffer many times in order to improve our behaviors, and change the negative into the positive. If there is anyone from the last 35 years that I have not remembered, all of you are in my heart. I would like to conclude with the word ‘desire.’ A wise man teaching about the invisible once said that everything starts from a desire. When I was a young man I had a desire to be a good person, and that was the beginning of getting more. After that came words like: enthusiasm, faith, humbleness, gratitude. Then 35 years ago I had the desire to start a restaurant with plant-based, organic, clean food, made with love, with good intention. And this became Caravan of Dreams. The great vibrations that we generate when our desires are positive—these miracles are the result. What happened lately, with so many people giving abundance, little money here and there, making big, beautiful things for Caravan of Dreams. This is a miracle. Thank you to everyone. I love everyone.”
