2020 was rough for everyone, especially healthcare workers who had to face difficult conditions. Healthcare workers were not the only professionals pushed to their limits during the pandemic. At the beginning of the outbreak, these essential workers were denied adequate protections and were forced to wear sweaty face masks for an entire day because of a shortage – all while the federal government held onto reserves.

Workers in the frontlines of grocery stores and delivery services were thrust into the role of an unlikely hero during the pandemic. The US Postal Service, FedEx, and UPS workers showed the world how crucial they have become during the coronavirus pandemic when people were forced to stay home and rely on them to bring them essential items. These delivery workers kept the American economy afloat despite the global crisis.

Anthony Gaskin is a UPS worker who went the extra mile during his shift in Chesterfield County, Virginia. He made sure that rural area residents got their packages on time and as promised. Gaskin never realized how much his work mattered until the pandemic hit and forced America to shut down. However, after the pandemic struck Virginia and caused widespread destruction, he realized that his work was more essential than ever before. People were relying on him to deliver them goods while they stayed safe at home.

Last week while on his usual route, Gaskin the UPS delivery driver discovered something peculiar. There was an entire line of parked cars! Gaskin wasn’t used to the scene before him. People were out of their cars, cheering and waving as he drove by in his brown UPS truck – all while maintaining a safe six feet apart from one another, per CDC guidelines.

The signs people were carrying expressed their admiration for the hard-working delivery man. Two children held a sign that read, “Hallsley loves you, Anthony.” When he saw signs like that, he suddenly realized that the entire production was done for him.

The residents of the small Anthony Virginia felt that he deserved to be recognized and knew that UPS certainly wouldn’t do it for him.

“Even though his truck does not have sirens and his uniform does not offer added fire protection, Anthony Gaskins is considered a hero in the Hallsley neighborhood,” later, Patty Friedman wrote an email to WTVR. “Through COVID, Anthony has continued working, delivering packages at our doors, record numbers of them, over 180 times to date.”

Gaskin’s actions might’ve been seen as commonplace to some, but Patty and the other residents of Hallsley knew better.

“I wanted to thank him personally for how much he helped me feel welcome when I moved in during a pandemic,” she continued. “It was terribly lonely, and he was always the highlight of my day.”

The community organized the event to show their appreciation for Anthony’s hard work.

“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,” Patty said. “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. Gaskins’ supervisors even showed up to present him with a gift.”