Garbage Collector Stops Truck to Hug and Pray for Young Woman ‘Down on Her Luck’

Garbage Collector Stops Truck to Hug and Pray for Young Woman ‘Down on Her Luck’
Courtesy of Dave Kuban
Updated:

A garbage collector who was spotted showing kindness to a woman in need has been lauded by his local community, prompting others to perform their own acts of kindness.

It was a Norwalk, Connecticut deli owner from across the street who spotted the uniformed man stop his garbage truck by the side of the road on the morning of Feb. 17. Dave Kuban of Dave & Charlie’s Hometown Deli took photos, and later shared the beautiful anecdote with the public group “I Love Norwalk CT!” on Facebook.
Mike Nance was spotted giving a hug to a woman in need. (Courtesy of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/dave.kuban.5">Dave Kuban</a>)
Mike Nance was spotted giving a hug to a woman in need. Courtesy of Dave Kuban

“Shout out to the @city_carting employee who stopped his truck and gave a few dollars and a much-needed hug to a young lady down on her luck,” he posted. “If anyone knows who he is, send him to the deli. We want to buy him lunch.”

As he looked out the window and saw the kind gesture unfolding in front of him, Kuban’s business partner, Carlos Gonzales, told News 12 that he saw the man hugging the woman for about five minutes. He shared that it was a “real hug.”

As the post spread quickly, Gonzales said: “We wanted to show him we appreciate him doing something like that. We need that in the world today.”

(Courtesy of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/dave.kuban.5">Dave Kuban</a>)
Courtesy of Dave Kuban

The deli owners eventually got their wish; their local community identified the kind man as Mike Nance, an employee at WIN Waste Innovations. As the social media post worked its magic, Nance got the message, and headed to the deli to meet Kuban and Gonzales.

He explained: “Anytime you see somebody walking around with everything that they own, talking to themselves, I don’t know. It just took over me ... so I hugged her, I said a prayer, and that was it.”

(Courtesy of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/dave.kuban.5">Dave Kuban</a>)
Courtesy of Dave Kuban

Inspired by Nance, the deli owners followed suit by making breakfast for the woman in need, free of charge. Incidentally, Feb. 17 is recognized as “National Random Acts of Kindness Day,” in the United States.

Humbled by the attention for his kind deed, Nance commented: “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.”

Mike Nance with Carlos Gonzales, co-owner of Dave and Charlie's Hometown Deli. (Courtesy of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/dave.kuban.5">Dave Kuban</a>)
Mike Nance with Carlos Gonzales, co-owner of Dave and Charlie's Hometown Deli. Courtesy of Dave Kuban

Nance, who believes there are a lot of good people in the world, shared his own philosophy: “I try to be the best person I can be, every day.”

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