This Sanitation Worker's Gift to an Autistic Little Boy

Young Daniel Mulligan loved when it was trash day during the week. The garbage man would drive his truck over to his Ojai, CA neighborhood and the 5-year-old autistic boy would go outside and imitate the truck’s movements when it would pick up the trash. He would stand close enough to the curb and mimic the truck, as the driver would go about his business – it happened so routinely that they even learned each others’ names!

One day, the garbage truck driver Manuel Sanchez decided to give little Daniel a gift: a toy model of the garbage truck that he loved dearly. (Coincidentally, Daniel had a toy garbage truck previously but it had broken.) The reaction of the young boy was so pure and heartwarming! The boy’s parents caught the whole ordeal on video and sent it to the organization Autism Speaks and soon became a viral video that undoubtedly brought many to tears!

The company Manuel works for has spoken out and said that they are honored to have him as their employee. And yes, he purchased the gift for Daniel with his own money.

Regarding Daniel, Manuel said, “That little boy is so special, and he will steal anybody’s heart as soon as you see him. I didn’t know what he has, but there’s something very special about him.”

… And the same could be said about Manuel! This goes to show that the world would be a better place with more people like the generous truck driver around.

Here’s the video: