A group of garbage truck drivers made a 3-year-old boy’s birthday extra special when they paid him a special visit in honor of his big day. Wolfgang Reader loves garbage trucks, and every Friday he patiently waits for his neighborhood garbage workers, Drew and D.J., to arrive at his house. So when Wolfgang’s parents told him he could only have a few friends at his birthday party because of the coronavirus, he immediately named his “Wolfpack,” Drew and D.J.
D.J. and Drew’s visits have been the highlight of Wolfy’s week throughout the pandemic.
As his mom, Julia Wehkamp, shared in a post on Facebook from September 9, “[Drew and D.J.] always take time to chat to him and check out his latest toy garbage truck … have the occasional popsicle and happy dance to follow.”
Wolfgang’s third birthday was coming up September 9, but his parents told him that this year he needs to keep a party small.
Just one or two friends who could come over for cake.
“Without hesitation, he said ‘Drew and D.J.,’” Wehkamp wrote. “We laughed it off, especially knowing his birthday is on a Wednesday.”
But Wolfgang’s grandmother was able to make his greatest wish happen.
The CBC reported that the grandmother wrote a letter to the city of Toronto, which said her grandson was “obsessed” with garbage trucks and asked if Drew and D.J. would want to come to his birthday party.
For three weeks the family heard nothing, but then on the big day, Drew and D.J.’s supervisor dropped by and told them that possibly a garbage truck could stop by for the big day.
Wehkamp and her husband decided to decorate their house in a garbage truck theme.
And BOOM, Wolfgang’s “Wolfpack” made a surprise appearance.
“All of a sudden, the noise started and you saw coming down the street four garbage trucks blaring their horns,” Wehkamp told the CBC.
Unfortunately, D.J. was on vacation, but Drew showed up with other waste removal workers and made Wolfgang’s day.
“Guys are hanging out the window, screaming. And they pulled up out front and all the guys got out,” Wehkamp continued. “They brought him a whole bunch of presents and shirts that they wear and hats and colouring books. The whole nine yards.”
Drew got out of his truck, and Wolfgang recognized him immediately.
He even took the time to play with Wolfgang and his toy garbage trucks.
“They were here for a good half an hour, 45 minutes, just taking time out of their personal time to make a little boy happy,” Wehkamp added. “And he'll never forget it. Yeah, it was very cool."
By the end of the visit, more than 20 neighbors had come outside to witness the generous act.
“Solid guys, honestly, just the salt of the earth, and people I think we need right now in this world. I feel really blessed,” Wehkamp said.
Drew was happy that he could make Wolfgang smile.
Unfortunately, Wolfy started school recently so he won’t be able to greet Drew and D.J. on their normal visits, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t the best of buds.
“Wolfy is a really great kid. I like that kid, man!” Drew told the CBC. “We took a liking to him and he took a liking to us."
They first noticed Wolfy when his family put up a sign on their house that read “Thank you essential workers.”
“It means a lot,” Drew said. “It's the children, they're the next generation to come. Seeing them enthusiastic about even just something as simple as what we do in our everyday lives brings meaning and shows the importance of what everyone does in society. It just makes me feel good."
And it certainly means a lot to Wolfgang and his family.
“Mad respect to the solid crew at GFL Environmental, all the essential workers during this difficult time and to the kind souls who took their own personal time to make a little kid smile,” Wehkamp wrote on Facebook.
