Once again, the Webster community has come together in a big way to help out a neighbor, this time making sure a sweet 88-year old lady gets a birthday gift she’ll never forget.
This heartwarming story began when Bonnie Smorol posed a simple plea on the Webster Neighbors Facebook page:
This is a VERY random post and I’m not crazy, but here goes. My elderly mother lives in Webster and every night she watches for the white (maybe) flatbed truck with “tons of lights on it” which heads north on Holt usually around 7:30 p.m. She calls it “her truck.” I’ve been hearing about “her truck” for years now.
Her 88th birthday is the end of this month and if I could get the driver to even just flash the lights as they drive by on her birthday she would be overjoyed!
The response from the Webster community was immediate and overwhelming. In the days following that post, it was “liked” more than 900 times, shared more than 400 times and garnered 272 comments, every single one of them cheering for the possibility of finding that white-ish truck. But even beyond that, one trucking company after another chimed in. Before long, that one-truck search had blossomed into a multi-truck spectacle.
Rachael Davey, a tow truck driver for Ricci and Sons Towing, has taken the lead in organizing what has now become dozens of participants in what she’s calling a “Parade of Lights.” She told me that at least four other trucking companies will be taking part — AP Enterprises, Barth Towing, Glen and Sons Towing and Aarango Towing — most of whom will be bringing two or three or more trucks each. Several others have expressed interest, including Roze Property Care, Glen & Sons Towing, Greasy Monkey Towing and Todd’s Towing. So it’s going to be a BIG group. And best of all, they’ll all be escorted by Webster Police cars with lights flashing.
In total, 20 or more professional trucking company vehicles (that we know of) will be parading by Ruth’s window the evening of her birthday, Friday Jan. 26. My bet is that many, many more than 20 vehicles will show up, giving Ruth what will undoubtedly be a very memorable 88th birthday present.
Unfortunately, so far no one’s been able to identify who’s driving that white flat-bed truck that passes by Ruth’s apartment every evening and prompted this outpouring of love. But almost certainly, all of the other trucks — and cars and SUVs and pickups — will more than make up for it.
As for Bonnie, she’s been blown away by the response. She wrote,
I am completely overwhelmed by the heartfelt response to my search for that one particular truck that has made such an impression on my mom, especially during COVID when she was quarantined in her small apartment that faced Holt Rd. I don’t think people realize they might be making a difference in someone’s life and they never even know it!
My faith in humanity has been restored. It seems you only hear about the bad things that are happening in the world but it’s amazing to know there are so many kind, thoughtful, caring people living among us who are willing to make a stranger happy! They even want to know what size sweatshirt she wears!
I knew the people of Webster were awesome but I had no idea it was such a tight and giving community. … It’s beyond heartwarming to know there are so many people who truly just want to reach out in kindness. My heart has grown two sizes.
JOIN THE PARTY! Community participation is more than welcome and encouraged!!
If you’d like to participate in the Parade of Lights with your car or truck, plan to meet up with the rest of the drivers in the Holt Rd. Wegmans parking lot at 6:30 p.m. on Friday Jan. 26. Everyone will line up and leave from there, parading north along Holt Rd. past Ruth’s apartment in the Legends at North Ponds. (P.S. at least one television station said they were going to try to be there, too.)
Let’s show everyone what a loving community Webster is.
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(posted 1/20/2024)
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