Dave Kuban and Carlos Gonzales, owners of Dave and Charlie's Hometown Deli in Norwalk, were getting ready for the morning rush when they looked out the window and saw something special.
A garbage man stopped his route and approached a young woman on the side of the road who was clearly down on her luck. "We just saw him hugging her for, I don't know, I want to say five minutes if that. But it was a real hug," Carlos Gonzales told News 12.
RELATED: Man Sees Boy Living In a Garbage Dump And Is So Moved He Surprises Him With a Home
Gonzalez said the driver also gave the woman money. Kuban took a couple pictures and posted to a Norwalk Facebook group about the kindness he had just witnessed.
Why a Garbage Man Hugged a Young Woman on the Road
The post, which quickly went viral, called on the community to help find him so the deli could give him a free lunch.
"We wanted to show him we appreciate him doing something like that. We need that in the world today."
RELATED: As A Child, She Lived In A Garbage Dump - Today, She Just Earned A College Scholarship
The community led the deli owners and News 12 to Mike Nance, an employee at WIN Waste Innovations.
Any time you see somebody walking around with everything that they own, talking to themselves — I don't know. It just took over me.
Mike Nance to News 12
After talking to the woman and giving her some cash, Nance said he felt compelled to offer more comfort.
"So I hugged her. I said a prayer, and that was it," Nance said.
How One Act of Kindness Can Lead to Others
But that wasn’t it. The story inspired so many people online.
"I don't really know how to feel about that," Nance said regarding the attention. "I'm a garbage man. We're about the community. I'm about the community. I love Norwalk. I'm from Norwalk. I was born here. So whatever I can do to help, that's what I'm going to do."
RELATED: Garbage Man Realizes Something Is Wrong When He Notices 90-Year-Old's Trash Hasn't Been Taken Out
Nance's good deed also inspired the deli owners. "After we saw him do that, we made her a little breakfast and brought it over to her. It's a domino effect," Gonzales said.
Nance was happy to hear his act of kindness had a domino effect.
If that comes out of it, then that's amazing. There's a lot of good people out here in the world.
Mike Nance to News 12
It only takes a moment to be kind and you never know how your kindness will impact and inspire others.
More Uplifting News from Goalcast:
- Garbage Men Spot Suspicious Car - What They Did Next Saved an Abducted 10-Year-Old
- 3-Year-Old Girl Waits For Garbage Man Every Week - One Day, He Pulls Over
- Stranger Trusts Instinct When Drunk Driver Crashes Into House - Ends Up Saving Little Girl's Life
- Lyft Passengers Make Racist Comments before a Ride - Driver Hits Back with the Best Response
Old photobooth strip of Nana and Papa@jennjensc/TikTok
An elderly woman sits in chair with blue blanket while doing chemotherapy.@jennjensc/Tiktok
screenshot of a comment on TikTok@jennjensc / TikTok
Military Dad Defends His 4 Little Daughters When Strangers Make This Rude Remark