Manteca is rallying to help 19-year-old Jose Maltez.

Maltez is struggling to raise funds to bury his mother while working to support himself after living two years on his own before graduating East Union High with a 4.0 grade point average.

Maltez said is humbled by the compassion of the Manteca community that has come to his aid with all kinds of support. But he has only seen about one-third of what he needs for funeral costs.

In a Bulletin story this past week, the Delta College freshman aiming for a career as a nurse practitioner tried to explain why his mother had walked in front of westbound freight train near Walnut Avenue 13 days ago. Karla Teilor-Salguera was killed instantly. She left behind five children.

He indicated that he hoped he could find a job near Delta College campus in Stockton so that he wouldn’t have the added costs of commuting every day to Manteca where he is working at Big League Dreams.

A regional manager of In-Shape Gym contacted him offering him a job at a gym next to the community college campus. He noted that Maltez seemed like a perfect addition to his team.

A Manteca woman also made it known that she is the owner of a burial plot at Park View Cemetery on French Camp Road that she would like to donate to Maltez for his mother’s burial.

P.L. Fry and Son Mortuary in Manteca said Friday that it looks like the service will probably be held in a Catholic church next Saturday that is waiving its fee for the teen. Fry’s is accepting any donations that will help pay the funeral costs. www.GoFundme.com/Karla may also be used to provide any help. 

Maltez said he is “very grateful” to all the people – many he doesn’t know – who have made an effort to help in his mother’s funeral and to help him bring his siblings to Manteca from Florida for the service.