Garbageman Gives Special Gift to Boy Who Waits for Him Every Week

It is a weekly event for five-year-old Daniel Mulligan to run outside to see the garbageman. He bursts with excitement as soon as he hears the sound of the garbage truck approaching his house. Daniel has autism and was once so afraid of the garbage truck, but now his favorite day is trash day.

The garbage truck fascinates him so much, that he will wait for hours for it to arrive. He befriended Manuel Sanchez, the garbageman who drives the garbage truck on his route and eagerly waves when he comes by. Every Monday, Daniel’s mom, Robin Newberger records him on video as he runs out of the front the door when the garbage truck stops in front of their yard. Very appreciative of the consistent joy Daniel shows when he sees him, Manuel wanted to surprise him with a special gift.

“He just filled my heart when I saw him from the very first time. He is a very happy guy”, Manuel says to ABC7. “I saw the way he looks at trucks. I saw that truck a long time ago and I said, ‘Oh maybe Daniel would like his own trash truck'”.

One day as Daniel and his mom were standing outside, Manuel got off the garbage truck and gave Daniel a bag with a gift inside. To Daniel’s surprise, inside the bag is a green garbage truck of his very own! It was the perfect gift.

Garbageman Give Special Gift to Boy Who Waits for Him Every Week_ everything inspirational — Credit: ABC7

Daniel’s mom told Manuel that Daniel once had a truck just like it but it broke. Manuel’s kindness act of kindness really went a long way!

“To think that this man went out of his way, stopped at a store, got a gift for our child and brought it to him…when somebody does something like that, it’s pretty triumphant,” Robin Newberger says. “I think that is what is touching the hearts of everybody around the world.”