A lot of kids fall in love with a local worker. For some, it’s being a firefighter.
Others think of a police officer. Brooklyn of Bloomington, Illinois, however, had Delvar Deshawn Dopson, a garbage collector. She sat every day by the window waiting for him to pass by with his truck.
Every Thursday, Dopson made his rounds. Brooklyn waved and greeted him every time he saw her. His response was always a wave and a smile. His day was brightened by the little girl, and when she offered him a gift on her birthday, he was even more surprised.
Brooklyn’s mother, Traci Andracke, knew how much Dopson meant to her daughter and would sometimes take her around the block if they missed his visit. According to Andracke, Dopson is Brooklyn’s favorite awesome smiley garbage man.
To thank the garbage collector for all his hard work, Brooklyn’s only wish for her 3rd birthday was to give him one of her cupcakes. Dopson would be surprised with a fairy cupcake from the little girl.
The touching moment was shared on Facebook by Brooklyn’s mother. When she called Dopson over, he came down the street waving as usual. As Brooklyn handed over the cupcake she’d been holding for him, he got out of his truck with a big smile on his face.
Since then, the family and garbage man have been creating wonderful memories together.
See the full video at the end of this article
Taking the time to explain to Dopson how excited her daughter is about his weekly trips, Andracke revealed that he also looks forward to seeing them every Thursday as well.
Brooklyn was overjoyed when she was able to give Dopson a cupcake for her birthday on Apr. 7, 2016. She finally met him, and I can’t even describe how happy it made me as a mother,” Andracke said. “She was literally starstruck and couldn’t even speak. She had to rely on me to do all of the talking. In addition, she is never short of words.”
Brooklyn turned to her mother after Dopson left and said, “Mommy, I’m so happy.” Although the encounter was brief, it left a lasting impression.
On his own birthday six months later, Dopson surprised Brooklyn and her brother, Ty, with cupcakes and presents. The tradition has continued, and Brooklyn and Dopson’s family have no plans to stop. Thanks to their daughter’s loving gesture, their family has made a new friend.
Brooklyn and Dopson’s sweet exchange “blew her away,” Andracke explained. According to her:
A small gesture – a honk, a wave, a smile – does not require much effort. Don’t hesitate. Give someone a smile or spend an extra second helping them. A smile can really brighten someone’s day no matter who it is on the receiving end.”