A Ucluelet garbageman鈥檚 workday looked more like Christmas morning last week as he found presents left out for him all along his route.
Frank Thomas Trodden told the Westerly 亚洲天堂 he was 鈥渄efinitely stunned鈥� by the community鈥檚 outpouring of appreciation as he went about his business on Tuesday, Sept. 13.
He said he had heard of the town鈥檚 plans to thank him with a Frank Appreciation Day through Facebook, but never thought it would gain as much traction as it did.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 believe it was going to be a big deal and when the day arrived I was proven wrong. I had so many people showing me their appreciation with gifts or little notes or smiles and waves. It truly was a blessing day and I couldn鈥檛 have been more heart-filled,鈥� he said.
鈥淚鈥檓 just a guy who wants to do his job. I definitely want to say how grateful I am to the community and to thank Katharine Fleming for everything she did to make Frank Appreciation Day happen. She has a heart of gold that woman; truly truly amazing.鈥�
Fleming had launched the initiative somewhat inadvertently a week prior when she made a post on the Ucluelet Community Board Facebook group explaining that a person had walked off with the drinks she leaves out for Frank every pickup day.
鈥淚t鈥檚 just to say you do a hard job, a thankless job at times and we really appreciate what you do,鈥� Fleming told the Westerly. 鈥淗e鈥檚 always got a smile on his face, he鈥檚 always friendly, he鈥檚 always nice, he does his job well and he deserves a little bit of thanks.鈥�
She said the post quickly became a sounding board of support for the popular garbageman as the comments filled with feedback from other locals who appreciate the work he does and liked the idea of leaving gifts out for him.
鈥淚 thought, you know what? Let鈥檚 change this whole thread, that started out somewhat negative, around and make something good out of it,鈥� she said.
She said she edited her post to encourage everyone to show their appreciation for Frank by leaving gifts, cards, notes, or simply saying 鈥楾hanks鈥� to him during his Sept. 13 route.
鈥淚 deleted everything about the person taking the stuff because that really had no bearing on what was now going to happen and changed it to, 鈥榃e鈥檙e making this Frank鈥檚 day,鈥欌�� she said. 鈥淲e all really appreciate what you do. You do a great job and we really appreciate you keeping our city clean.鈥�
Ucluelet resident Liisa Nielsen said she was delighted to participate in the day鈥檚 giving spirit.
She said Frank often gives her a thumbs-upafter picking up her garbage, but she realized how tough and 鈥渦nderappreciated鈥� his job is one morning when a glass jar fell out of her bag and broke as he was carrying it.
鈥淚鈥檝e wanted to do something for him ever since,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he day Katharine declared a Frank Day I was all over it鈥hanks Frank for putting up with our garbage all these years.鈥�
Fleming said when Frank came by her house that day, he was beaming from all the generosity.
鈥淚t made me feel so good. We made somebody鈥檚 day who really deserves it. It was fabulous. It was just fabulous,鈥� she said. 鈥淭his is really what the Internet should be and what our Ucluelet Community Board is all about. It鈥檚 about each of us supporting each other. That鈥檚 what makes us the best place on Vancouver Island, probably in Canada, to live.鈥�
She said she was not surprised to see the community get behind the new initiative with maximum gusto.
鈥淚 love our town. I love the people in our town. I love the way we all build each other up,鈥� she said.
鈥淎ll I did was put a little idea out there and everybody in this town ran with it. That鈥檚 what鈥檚 so great about our town. It only takes one person to start some little thing and the people in Ucluelet will all get behind it. We are great people. This town is great鈥hanks Frank for doing a great job. We really do appreciate you.鈥�
andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca
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