Derlin Newey, an 89-year-old man living in Roy, Utah, had been delivering pizza to the Papa John's chain for just over a year because his social security pension wasn't enough.
The old man turned on the social network TikTok and has received tips worth $ 20,000
thanks to a family that published all the deliveries on his account.
It was all thanks to the Vadez family.
When she delivered a pizza to Gladys a week ago and struck up a conversation, the woman was totally delighted as the delivery men she's used to just say hello and leave.
[A woman criticizes a Latino barista for forcing her to wear a mask. The young man has received nearly $ 100,000 in tips]
"He was very kind, talkative and super sweet and genuine," Valdez, 32, told
The Washington Post
.
They cancel their wedding due to the pandemic and donate the banquet to a shelter for women and children
Aug. 29, 202000: 29
She told her husband Carlos, 34, about the delivery man.
"She takes the time to tell you a little about herself and get to know you," added Carlos, manager of the Rooster's Brewing brewery in Ogden, Utah.
"I don't know of any pizza delivery guy who takes the time to do that," he
recalled.
The family was so impressed by the age and friendliness with which Newey delivered pizzas, that they decided to post on TikTok, an application for creating and sharing short videos, the images from the camera of their doorbell.
[A waiter received a lottery ticket as a tip. Then she won a huge prize]
His followers soon began to love the octogenarian delivery man by leaving comments on the videos.
The Valdez family continued to order pizzas and request that Newey deliver them.
They published two more videos and one of them reached more than two and a half million views.
The Valdez family then decided to compensate the delivery man for his effort and to ease their financial situation.
They launched a crowdfunding campaign through Venmo and
in 24 hours they had raised more than $ 1,000
.
Then they gave him the surprise.
["Happy New Year!" A waitress gets a $ 2,020 tip. This is how she plans to spend them]
Carlos ordered Papa John's chicken wings for delivery and requested that Newey be the delivery man.
He tipped him $ 20 and told him that a prize from his online followers awaited him.
Newey gave her his contact information and they agreed to meet on September 22 at his home.
Newey was expecting a gift like a T-shirt
, Valdez said.
Instead, when he opened his front door, Valdez was holding an empty pizza box.
Inside was an envelope with $ 12,000 in cash.
Newey was dumbfounded and his eyes filled with tears.
How can I say thank you?
I don't know what to say! "He said in a video on TikTok while crying with joy.
Since then people have donated another $ 8,000
for the delivery man.
Several days after receiving the money, Newey reflected on his good luck.
"It's beautiful," Newey told
The Washington Post
.
"I mean, who gives that kind of tip?"
Newey normally works about 30 hours a week, Monday through Saturday delivering pizza.
He got the job 14 months ago when he realized that his pension was not enough to cover his living expenses.
Newey, a retired salesperson, is originally from the Ogden area of Utah.
He worked as a cookware salesman in the 1950s in the Washington DC area where he lived.
He then spent 26 years living in Gridley, California, and working for National Merchandising, earning a BA and MBA from Brigham Young University.
Newey is divorced and has five daughters and two sons
.
If Newey didn't need the extra income, he would continue to work as a deliveryman because he loves it, he said.
"Fabulous," he said of his work.
"I love the people I work with and I love going to citizens' homes, being helpful, having a nice conversation and making friends," he added to
The Washington Post
.
With information from CNN and The Washington Post.