Hundreds of neighbors came together this week to deliver an emotional thank you to a UPS driver who went above-and-beyond to deliver 200 packages a day through lockdowns and the chaos of the holiday season.

Anthony Gaskin works as a UPS driver in Chesterfield County, Virginia, and he goes above and beyond to deliver his packages every day.

“Through COVID, Anthony has continued working, delivering packages at our doors, record numbers of them, over 180 times to date,” local resident Patty Friedman wrote in an email. “I wanted to thank him personally for how much he helped me feel welcome when I moved in during a pandemic. It was terribly lonely and he was always the highlight of my day. Mentioning this to a few people and the response I got was all I needed to know I was not alone.”

This is what led Friedman and her neighbor trying to figure out a way to show Gaskin how much they appreciate him, and it all came together last Tuesday.

“Arriving on bikes, on foot, and in more than 75 cars, hundreds of Hallsley residents lined the road and waited for Anthony to turn the corner,” she recounted. “A humble man, he needed to be coaxed, but eventually, slowly drove his truck down the road while children and adults held up signs, screamed his name, honked their horns, and rang bells.”

Gaskin could not help but become emotional, as he was visibly moved by this incredible gesture.

“Anthony always smiles, waves, and goes above and beyond to deliver packages with care,” one neighbor said. “He makes you feel like a friend when you see him. He brightens our day, whenever he drops off a package, which is frequently at our house! He stands out from ALL other delivery drivers and we love him! Cheers to Anthony!”

“Anthony always delivers our packages with a wave and a smile,” another neighbor added. “Sometimes he is the only outside face we see during the day. We appreciate his hard work and dedication during the pandemic, which delivered food, supplies, and even holiday gifts to a high-risk family.”

“Thank you Anthony for all you do,” commented a third neighbor. “My six-year-old daughter hasn’t seen either set of grandparents in over a year. This has been very hard on everyone. Many of the packages you deliver are from them. The joy the packages bring makes it worthwhile. Thank you for always delivering them with a kind smile and a friendly wave!”

Gaskin spoke briefly, thanking everyone for their kindness, and then he got back to work!