He Got Out Of The Truck
She saw the garbage truck that used to pass through that street every Thursday stop by one of the houses. Then, she saw the garbage man getting out and standing on the street like he was waiting for something.
And when she saw the 3-year-old girl Brooklyn Andracke walking towards him, she couldn't help but wonder what was going on. So she decided to record the whole thing on video.
The Story Of Delvar Dopson
Everyone in the neighborhood knew Delvar Dopson. He had been working as a garbage man in that area for years. And even though he mostly kept to himself and most people hadn't really talked to him, everybody knew who he was.
But one day, one of the neighbors had the chance to get to know Delvar from a closer distance. And what happened next was recorded on video and has already been seen by millions of people.
Not Many People Knew Him Personally
This story took place in Bloomington, Illinois. And it's one of those stories that teach us a lot about what goes on in our communities that isn't usually talked about.
Most people might not have known Delvar personally but that did not mean that he was unfriendly. Actually, he seemed to have a good relationship with one family from the neighborhood: the Andrackes.
Why Did He Know Them?
As a matter of fact, every Thursday, when the garbage truck used to roll down the street where the Andrackes lived, Dopson used to greet the family in his own particular way.
He used to honk and wave every time he drove in front of the Andrackes' house. But why was he doing that? What was his relationship with the Andrackes?
It Was All About Little Brooklyn
The answer is really simple: he didn't know them personally. However, the Andrackes' little girl, Brooklyn, aged 3, was a big fan of the neighborhood's favorite garbage man.
For some reason, she really enjoyed seeing the big truck rolling down the street where she lived every Thursday morning. And she would make sure to make that known.
She Waited For Him Every Thursday
So every time, she used to wait at the window with her mom and wave at the garbage truck while it passed through. It was her favorite moment of the week.
"To Brooklyn, he is our favorite awesome smiley garbage man," her mother, Traci Andracke, told the reporters when she was asked about the story.
This Became A Routine
So it went on like that for some weeks. Every Thursday morning, Delvar Dopson knew that Traci and Brooklyn Andracke would be waiting for him, looking at their window.
And in turn, Brooklyn was happy to know that Dopson would be honking and waving at them from his truck. But soon, she would have the chance to meet him personally.
They Started Leaving The House
At some point, Brooklyn and Traci started to leave the house every Thursday morning to see the truck pass by and wave at Dopson from closer.
"It became all about him after that," Andracke said. "It wasn't the 'garbage truck' anymore, but it was the 'garbage man' that she wanted to see."
Brooklyn’s Birthday
One day, it was Brooklyn's birthday. She was turning 4 years old. It was a great day, but it wasn't perfect. And this was for one reason: it was Wednesday.
One thing would have made her day better: having the chance to wave at Dopson as he drove his truck down the street. But Brooklyn and Traci had a plan to make up for it. And it was all seen by one of the neighbors, who wouldn't hesitate to record it on video for the world to see.
They Finally Met Delvar
The following day, it was Thursday; which meant that Dopson would be there, honking and waving. And even if he hadn't been there for her birthday, Brooklyn wanted to do something to make Dopson feel included in the celebration.
So that morning, she and her mom woke up and waited in front of the house with one of the cupcakes from Brooklyn's birthday party. And when the truck finally appeared, they waved at Dopson and motioned to make Dopson stop by.
She Gifted Him A Cupcake
From his truck, Dopson saw Brooklyn and Traci and, just like every other week, he waved and honked at them. But then he noticed that the mom and her daughter wanted him to stop. And so he did.
He walked out of the truck and walked towards Brooklyn and Traci. And his heart melted when the little girl, with a shy smile, gave him the cupcake while Traci told him about how it was her birthday yesterday, and they wished he would have been there.
She Was Ecstatic
"As a mom, I can't even describe how happy it made me that she got to finally meet him," Andracke told the press, when she was questioned about the story some days later.
"She was literally starstruck and could not even say a word. I had to do all of the talking for her. And she is never usually short on words."
Best Day Of Her Life
"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," she added.
"After he left, we continued on to daycare. Brooklyn was unusually quiet in the backseat. I asked her if she was okay, and she said, 'Mommy, I'm so happy.'" And the story doesn't end there.
Delvar Comes Back
One week later, Dopson's truck was rolling down the street again. And as usual, Brooklyn and Traci were waving at him from their yard. But suddenly, Dopson stopped in front of their house and got out of the truck with a box.
With a smile, he handed the box to Brooklyn. What could that be? Brooklyn and Traci couldn't wait to find out as they opened the box, intrigued.
Delvar’s Gift
It was full of toys from Brooklyn's favorite movie, "Frozen"! The little girl couldn't contain her excitement. She and her mom wholeheartedly thanked Dopson. And one week later, they had something prepared to thank him.
Brooklyn made a big note with the words "THANK YOU DELVAR" written on it. Dopson was moved to tears by this gesture and, from then on, he hung the letter on his truck so the whole neighborhood could see it.
Far From Over
In today's fast-paced, social media-driven world, it seems like something new goes viral every day. Sometimes these stories end up that way for the wrong reasons, and in cases like Delvar’s and Brooklyn’s, because of great reasons.
With so many seemingly ordinary people being thrust into the spotlight, many viral stories end up as sensations today and forgotten tomorrow. Delvar Dopson’s story wasn’t one of these. His story was only just beginning.
He Had Big Dreams
Before Delvar became a viral sensation, many people did not know he was quietly working his way up in the world. For Delvar, being a garbageman was a job that he took pride in, just as he did with everything else he set his mind to.
However, to Delvar, being a garbageman was also a stepping stone. He had other plans, and the time came to make them a reality.
Who Was He Really?
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.
Actually, Delvar had brought great joy to other kids around the neighborhood too. But his life’s mission was far from over.
The Next Step
Delvar was an avid family man. Sharing a deep connection with his wife, he quietly went about making his dreams come true. Delvar was indeed a unique person, and it shone through in everything he did.
After years of working as a garbageman, he could finally start working on his passions and spreading his wings. This started with his plans to launch a new career.
He Worked Tirelessly
Millions of people had gotten to know of his kindness and inspirational bond with Brooklyn. Most people didn’t realize that in addition to working as a garbageman, Delvar worked tirelessly during his nights too.
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.
The News He Was Waiting For
After all his efforts, Delvar was on the cusp of a new life. He waited with bated breath for his results. He had put in so many extra hours after work to achieve his first dream.
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.
The Good News Kept Coming
Delvar was ecstatic. While he never minded being a garbageman, Delvar had always dreamed of a life beyond it. Being licensed in Nevada, Delvar moved to the city of Henderson to begin his new career.
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.
His Other Dreams
Drawing inspiration from another special person in his life, Delvar also worked on his dream of starting a movement. The other person was his mother, who had taught him how to be the best version of himself he could be.
Therefore, helping others bring out the best within themselves was a passion of Delvar’s. He was now ready to take that passion to the next level.
The Next Chapter
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.
Delvar envisioned a life as a motivational speaker and leader to help others manifest their full potential. With all the pieces of his life in place, Delvar made it happen.
The Movement
By becoming an influential part of the Eregon 206 movement, 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.
As his influence grows, Delvar does his best to stay grounded. To this, he always makes time to indulge his first passion.
Back To His Roots
Delvar’s fame and support all started when he showed kindness to a little child. 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.”
Delvar has undoubtedly come a long way since sharing a cupcake with Brooklyn. Years had passed, and Delvar now lived in a different city. So what became of Brooklyn, the little girl that started it all?
Delvar And Brooklyn
Remarkably, after all the time had passed since that fateful day, Delvar never stopped being friends with the Andracke family. Delvar has also never forgotten Brooklyn, always staying in contact with her and visiting whenever he can.
By now, Brooklyn was almost nine years old and had a younger brother that Delvar has grown just as close to. Delvar often posts about this special bond to this day. Delvar has also continued growing from strength to strength personally.
An Inspiration
Delvar now has an impressive online following. After his fame that all began with Brooklyn, Delvar has genuinely become an inspiration to others and a motivational figure in life.
While others might have sought to milk or exploit the fame, Delvar chooses to use the platform his viral story created to better the world around him.
What A Ride
When Delvar first began working in the Andracke’s neighborhood, he probably never imagined what an impact this would have on his life and theirs.
All these years later, millions of people still view the video that catapulted both of them to viral fame. So much has changed since, but Delvar still often reflects on the special moment he spent with a special little girl that started it all.
Paying It Forward
Delvar’s mission in life has been to spread as much kindness and joy as he can. In doing so, he has always hoped to motivate others to follow. His example has become a true beacon of positivity in a world so often marred by nastiness and unkind actions.
Delvar’s actions show us all that simple acts of kindness can go a long way in changing our circumstances. Therefore, the question remains, what can we do to change the world too?