A 3-Year-Old's Unexpected Idol
We are constantly amazed by kids and how big their hearts can be when they, themselves, are so small. This is certainly the case for 3 year old Brooklyn Andracke, whose personal idol was her neighborhood garbage man.
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She looked forward to Thursdays when he would drive by and honk the horn of the big trash truck. He was just as delighted to see Brooklyn light up! It’s not everyday that you get such excited reactions to the garbage trail.
Don't Want to Miss It!
Thursday was Brooklyn’s favorite day of the week because she was able to see her idol on this day each week. While other kids were struggling to roll out of bed, she was up bright and early ready to see her friend roll by and honk his horn.
Source: Youtube
She sat at the window waiting to see him every Thursday for an entire year. She never missed an opportunity to see her friend.
Cupcakes to Spare
When Brooklyn turned 3, she happened to have some extra cupcakes lying around the house. Instead of saving them all for herself she knew exactly what she wanted to do with the spare batch.
Source: scrambledchefs/ pinterest
On the Thursday morning after her birthday, she asked her mom if she could bring the garbage truck man some cupcakes.
Sharing the Heartwarming Story
Usually Brooklyn waits behind the window to see her favorite garbage man, but today she wanted out on the driveway to deliver him a very special gift. We can’t think of very many toddlers with this kind of patience and thoughtfulness.
Source: Youtube
Her mom explained on Facebook, “My heart swells when I see the happiness that our amazing garbage truck driver brings Brooklyn.” The story has since gone viral.
Meeting the Man Behind the Truck
Brooklyn waited anxiously with her mom for the garbage truck to appear around the corner. She couldn’t wait to give her friend a cupcake! Her mom wrote on Facebook, “He pulled over and gave us a smile”.
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And when he saw that Brooklyn was waiting fr him in the yard, he pumped the brakes and stepped out of the truck to chat. He was absolutely speechless when he saw what Brooklyn was holding out to him.
The Heartwarming Meeting of 2 Friends
The kind man who always acknowledged and appreciated Brooklyn’s waving was named Delvar. He was ecstatic that she had a gift for him and accepted it right away.
Source: Facebok
They posed for a heartwarming photo next to the truck. Both friends are beaming! This touching photo really made the story take off and go viral across the internet.
Left Speechless
Brooklyn was starstruck from meeting her idol and Delvar was a little speechless that this little girl was kind enough to bring him a cupcake. Brooklyn’s mom mentioned that Brooklyn is rarely left not knowing what to say and this was one of those few moments.
The photo showed big smiles all around. Her mom was touched by the fact that he took the time out of his day to stop and have a moment with her daughter. She knew how important it was for her.
We Love Thursday's
During their first meeting Delvar explained that he loves Thursdays and he looks forward to Brooklyn’s waves and smiles.
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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 he doesn’t miss Brooklyn and her Mom. Delvar said he didn’t have any kids of his own, but mentors several children and just loves them.
"I'm So Happy"
Brooklyn went back into the house, got ready for daycare, and climbed into the back seat of her mom’s car.
She was unusually quiet. Her mom asked her if there was anything wrong. Brooklyn said, “No. I’m so happy.” So cute!
The Man Behind The Wheel
Delvar Dopson is well-known in the Bloomington community. He’d been a sanitation worker in Brooklyn’s neighborhood for years.
Even though he was a reserved man and a majority of people never had the opportunity to speak with him, everyone recognized him, and his contagious smile!
No Stranger To Helping Out
As mentioned above, Delvar mentors children in his spare time, so he’s no stranger to helping out little ones. -Delvar does what he can to make kids smile, and be a positive influence in their lives.
It just goes to show that even small gestures can have a big impact, even on the youngest of kids.
After Her Visit With Delvar
After Delvar climbed into his truck and got back on his route, Brooklyn had a big happy smile on her face for the rest of the week.
His visit was all she would talk about. But that wasn’t the end of the story, and it wasn’t the last encounter Delvar would have with his mightiest little fan!
The Following Week
After her meeting with Delvar, Brooklyn was no longer excited to see the truck—she was excited about seeing her friend. She couldn’t wait for the following Thursday.
That’s right—the next week, Delvar returned. He also returned carrying a mystery package for little Brooklyn.
Delvar’s Gifts
It looks like Delvar brought a ton of goodies for the three-year-old! A big play-set and a bag of other presents—what an amazing belated birthday! We wonder how Delvar found out that Brooklyn was such a huge fan of Frozen! Maybe her mom let something slip?
In any case, here’s the dynamic duo high-fiving. We can’t imagine how happy Brooklyn must have been at that moment. What a cool guy Delvar is for bringing those gifts. It really warms the heart to see such a genuine friendship blossom.
Thank You Delvar!
During the week, while Brooklyn was waiting for Delvar’s return she decided to get crafty. Not only did Delvar come baring belated birthday gifts for his new friend…
Brooklyn was ready and waiting for his return holding a big thank-you sign. Decorated with plenty of smily stickers and in bright-bold colors, Delvar was clearly touched by her sweet gesture.
Good Luck Charm
Just look at that adorable poster Brooklyn made! Delvar said he kept Brooklyn’s sign in his truck because it brought him good luck. Seriously, How sweet is that?
Moments like this children have at Brooklyn’s age play an integral role in who they become as adults. Children learn how to treat others based on their own first-hand experiences.
A Local Celeb
As it turned out, Delvar was a bit of a local celebrity with some of the other kids around the neighborhood, too!
People who learned of Delvar’s story were touched but probably thought it was a once-off occurrence. As Delvar’s fame grew, it soon became apparent that his kindness wasn’t an isolated incident.
Spread The Love!
Not only was Delvar a local celeb, his generosity and kindness caught the attention of Nutella! Delvar was beyond flattered…
The makers of the chocolate hazelnut spread, decided to feature Delvar in a series of YouTube videos promoting people who spread love!
A Hard Worker
Behind the scenes most people didn’t realize that in addition to working as a garbageman, Delvar worked tirelessly during his nights off.
Wikipedia
In fact, he was studying towards a new profession. After all his hard work and dedication, he was finally on the verge of a breakthrough and a life beyond the garbage truck.
Mission Accomplished
After all his tireless efforts, Delvar was on the cusp of a potentially life-changing event. Delvar waited with bated breath for the results…
When the news was finally confirmed, Delvar took to social media to share the wonderful news. He had passed his final examinations and was now a licensed realtor. Congratulations Delvar!
The Dream Team
Delvar was ecstatic. While he loved his time as a garbageman, Delvar had always dreamed of a life beyond it.
His magnetic personality soon landed him a prestigious position as a realtor with the Realty One team. Delvar knew he was now well on his way to achieving his other dreams too…
Even Bigger Dreams
Drawing inspiration from another special person in his life, Delvar also worked on his dream of starting a movement. This person was his mother. Delvar’s mother had always taught him how to be the best version of himself he could be.
Delvar was now ready to take that passion to the next level. After 12 years as a city public works employee, Delvar had decided it was time to resign from his position as a garbage man.
One Sad Goodbye
On his last day on the job, as Delvar turned into Brooklyn’s neighborhood the signs that greeted him brought tears to his eyes.
“We’re going to miss you Delvar,” “We appreciate you Delvar” and “We love you,” were some of the messages Delvar was greeted with.
A Bitter -SWEET- Moment
“It was unexpected,” said Dopson. “I saw the signs out, and I had to pull over for about five minutes because I broke down in tears in the truck.
Brooklyn decided to say goodbye the same way she had met Delvar — with cupcakes. Although the moment was bittersweet the two vowed to stay in contact and Brooklyn’s family had nothing but well-wishes for Delvar and his wife for their upcoming move.
A Big Move
Delvar had always dreamt of sharing his effervescent zest for life with others. To do this, he didn’t want to just inspire others. Delamar wanted to be part of a movement that could act as a beacon to others.
With his wife Bonnie’s full support the couple moved to Los Angeles to pursue a life as a motivational speaker and leader to help others manifest their full potential.
A Big Influence
Delvar joined the Eregon 206 Movement and quickly became an influential part. In this new position Delvar is able to share his journey and inspire others.
As someone that championed self-care, fitness, self-love, leadership, and empowerment, Delvar led by example and lived these values.
Staying Grounded
As his influence grew, Delvar has done his best to stay grounded. To make sure of this, he always makes time to indulge his first passion, giving back to kids.
Delvar’s fame and support all started when he showed kindness to Brooklyn. He has always loved spending time with kids and continues to do so every chance he gets. In his own words, “Children have the best hearts.”
A Once In a Life Time Chance
Delvar then got a once in a life time opportunity. Delvar was honored for his acts of kindness and he and his wife were invited to play on the T.V. gameshow The Wall.
The two were invited to compete for more than $12 million in prize money on the NBC’s game show after producers learned of his community spirit.
Well Deserved
During the hour-long episode, they hit six figures a few times and zero several times before the end. The couple ended up taking home, a life-changing $399,792!
The Dopson’s said they were thrilled with the possibilities the winnings bring. “We are working and we plan to still work,” said Delvar Dopson. “But that gives us a cushion in our hearts and our minds and our finances.”
What Now?
Delvar has undoubtedly come a long way since sharing a cupcake with Brooklyn. Years have passed, and Delvar now lives in a different city.
So what became of Brooklyn, the little girl that started it all?
A True Friendship
Remarkably, after all the time that has passed since that fateful day, Delvar has never stopped being friends with Brooklyn and the Andracke family. Delvar said he will never forgotten Brooklyn, and vows he will always stayed in contact with her. He even visits the family whenever he can.
By now, Brooklyn is almost nine years old and she has a younger brother that Delvar has grown just as close to. Delvar often posts about the duo’s special bond, even to this day. Their friendship has truly been life-changing.