A UPS delivery driver who has worked throughout the coronavirus pandemic to deliver packages to the people of the Hallsley neighborhood in Virginia has been moved to tears as they lined the streets to thank him.
Anthony Gaskin, a UPS delivery driver, ventured out during the pandemic to carry on with his work, marking him out as something of a local hero to the Hallsley neighborhood.
You can watch the incredibly moving scene right here:
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"Through COVID, Anthony has continued working, delivering packages at our doors, record numbers of them, over 180 times to date," local resident Patty Friedman told WTVR in an email.
"I wanted to thank him personally for how much he helped me feel welcome when I moved in during a pandemic. It was terribly lonely and he was always the highlight of my day. Mentioning this to a few people and the response I got was all I needed to know I was not alone."
And so Patty, along with a fellow neighbor, hatched a plan to show Gaskin how appreciative the neighborhood was for his work.
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"Arriving on bikes, on foot, and in more than 75 cars, hundreds of Hallsley residents lined the road and waited for Anthony to turn the corner," Patty told WTVR. Gaskin apparently had to be coaxed but eventually drove his truck slowly down the road while children and adults alike cheered for him, honked their horns and rang bells.
A tweet on the story reads:
"UPS driver Anthony Gaskin from Virginia went above and beyond this year, delivering nearly 200 packages a day through #COVID19 lockdowns and the flurry of the holiday season. This week, hundreds of neighbours came out to give him a hero salute."
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Gaskin's supervisors even turned up to the event to present him with a gift. A visibly moved Gaskin thanked everyone in a brief speech and then got right back to work.
"Sometimes he is the only outside face we see during the day. We appreciate his hard work and dedication during the pandemic, which delivered food, supplies, and even holiday gifts to a high-risk family." A neighbor wrote of the delivery driver.