There’s an old adage that heroes don’t always wear capes.
This couldn’t be more true for a little girl named Brooklyn Andracke, who eagerly anticipated every Thursday.
Why?
Because that’s the day her unique hero, the garbage man, would make his appearance.
Brooklyn’s home in Bloomington, Illinois, was a regular stop for the garbage truck each week.
She would wait with bated breath for the truck to arrive, but one Thursday was particularly special—it was the day a dream of hers came true.
For almost a year, Brooklyn had been waving a friendly “hello” to the garbage man, Delvar.
Brooklyn’s mom, Traci, shared that the little girl’s interaction with Delvar started with her waving to him from their window.
As time went on, Brooklyn wanted to be outside to wave at him in person.
If they ever missed the garbage truck, they would drive around the neighborhood until they found Delvar’s truck.
Even though they didn’t know Delvar personally, his reciprocal smiles and waves would always brighten Brooklyn’s day.
Traci shared on Facebook, “Every… Thursday, my heart is full when I see the joy that our amazing garbage man brings Brooklyn when he honks and waves at her with a BIG smile.”
On Brooklyn’s third birthday, a day she’ll likely never forget, Traci and Brooklyn decided to give a special gift to their weekly visitor.
They wrapped up a cupcake and waited for Delvar’s truck.
When they spotted the truck, they waved as they always did, but this time, Traci signaled for Delvar to come over.
Recounting the moment, Traci said, “He pulled over, got out and gave us his BIG smile. Brooklyn was instantly speechless as she handed him the cupcake.
I explained to him that he makes our day every Thursday, and we really appreciate the honking and waving, and how special of a day it is for us.”
The encounter was already special for Brooklyn, who got to meet her hero, but Delvar’s response melted Traci’s heart.
It turned out that Delvar also looked forward to their weekly interactions.
Traci shared, “He said that he has a meeting every Thursday morning and always tries to get out of there in a hurry so that he can make sure to see us every week. He said he doesn’t have any kids of his own, but he mentors several children and just loves them.”
After their heartfelt goodbye, Traci noticed that Brooklyn was unusually quiet during their car ride.
When asked what was wrong, Brooklyn simply responded, “Mommy, I’m so happy.”
Touched by Delvar’s kindness, Traci decided to share their story online, and it quickly went viral.
She wrote, “THANK YOU!!! Thank you for the joy that you bring Brooklyn every Thursday morning, for making her birthday special, and for making my heart happy. It may be a little thing that you do, but it means so much to us!”
But the surprises didn’t stop there.
The following week, Delvar arrived at their home for the usual trash pickup, but this time, he came bearing gifts.
He had brought birthday presents for his biggest fan, Brooklyn!
According to Inside Edition, Brooklyn and Delvar became good friends.
Delvar even sent Brooklyn a video message, giving her a behind-the-scenes look at the garbage collection process.
Their sweet story serves as a reminder of the simple joys in life and the profound impact of kindness.
You can watch the video below to learn more about this heartwarming tale.
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