A garbage man in Bloomington, Illinois became an internet sensation when the story of a young girl’s weekly routine went viral. The driver, Delvar Dopson, is bringing his community together through his actions and kind spirit.
Delvar’s story came to light when the City of Bloomington posted a comment it received about him on Facebook from the mom of three-year-old Brooklyn. According to the mom, Brooklyn’s favorite day of the week is Thursday – garbage day. For about a year, the little girl and her mom wait for the garbage truck’s arrival at their south Bloomington home.
At first, the little girl was content to wave out the window to the truck. Then, little Brooklyn wanted to be outside to wave. When they missed the truck, the mom would drive her little girl around the neighborhood to find him and wave. Every time he saw Brooklyn, the garbage man honked and waved back, sending her a huge smile.
Last week, on April 8, the little girl finally met what she and her mom dubbed their “favorite awesome smiley garbage man.” For Brooklyn’s birthday, the girl and her mom wrapped up a birthday cupcake and waited for the garbage man. They waved like normal when they saw him and the mom motioned for him to pull over.
When he did so, he got out and gave the pair “his BIG smile.” According to the mom, “Brooklyn was instantly speechless as she handed him the cupcake.” When she explained how he made her daughter’s day, “he explained that he looks forward to seeing us every Thursday as well.”
The mom added to Delvar, “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!”
Dopson, 34, told Pantagraph this week that he was overwhelmed by the response the comment got on Facebook. He stated, “Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought it would have gotten to where [they] have been shared a half-million times.”
Since the story went viral, Dopson has received emails from sanitation workers around the United States, Japan, and Canada. He added, “They’re garbage guys and blue collar workers. They’re saying: ‘Garbage guys aren’t all smelly, they’re smiley. Delvar, thanks for representing garbage guys across the nation.”
Dopson added, “By me recognizing my gift, I think I’m affecting my workplace. I think everybody can do that.”
