OSHKOSH, Wis (NBC 26) -- During the pandemic, there's no question the pace has picked up for those in the delivery industry. Drivers at UPS, Amazon, even the post office are getting packages onto doorsteps more often than ever. But one local delivery driver slowed down for a moment recently and he's being recognized, for doing so.
It was just a couple of weeks ago when Mary Zillges was racing to an appointment in Oshkosh when she saw a UPS driver show a simple act of kindness. She decided to quickly break out her phone and take a handful of grainy photos to share on her Facebook page.
"I didn't look at them until after I got inside so I couldn't go back and get another picture. I'm sure he was already gone."
On the photos themselves, it's kind of hard to tell what you're looking at. But she described it to her friends on Facebook with words, and it blew up.
"I know it was almost shared three thousand times already," says Zillges.
The three photos taken were described as a UPS driver who took the time to assist an elderly woman with a walker, cross a busy street in Oshkosh. Ultimately the photos and story touched way more people than she expected.
"Because not enough of us do that. I think we have to sit back and take a few minutes every day to reflect, maybe I can make a difference."
The man behind the photo was Dedrick Galloway. The 16-year veteran at UPS tells NBC26 that it wasn't a big deal and just part of the job. He adds that anyone of his co-workers would have done the same thing had they encountered a similar situation at a busy intersection.
"Once I saw her put that walker down on the road and cross, I was like oh no. So, I parked my truck and told her excuse me young lady what are you doing?"
Dedrick says he assisted her across the street And didn't think twice about it. But after the grainy photo was posted online his customers and friends were hearing about his action within hours.
"A lot of people know and recognize him even from the photo," says Zillges.
The comments on Facebook are heartwarming. Countless people shared their stories of Galloway's kindness as a UPS man and friend over the years. But Galloway is a pretty humble person, and he found just as much enjoyment from the act itself as others who are witnessing it online.
"Everyone thinks I did something special to make her day. But that lady she brightened my day. The rest of my day after I got her across the street I was just overwhelmed with smiles."
And while you might be asking yourself why the 16-year veteran for UPS feels like he is on the receiving end of this act of kindness, let's just say one good act all too often leads to another.
"That young lady told me I was sexy. She made my day. I still got it," Galloway said with a huge grin while laughing.
