Kindness from strangers is always uplifting, but when many individuals come together to support one person in need, it creates a powerful and heartwarming display of humanity.
This was the case for 89-year-old pizza delivery driver Derlin Newey, who touched the hearts of the Valdez family during a pizza delivery. Newey’s friendly nature and impressive work ethic unexpectedly led him to become a TikTok sensation and prompted a wave of generous donations from strangers eager to ease his burdens.
The story began when Carlos Valdez posted a video of Newey’s delivery, captured by the family's Nest doorbell camera, on TikTok. In the video, Newey cheerfully greets the family and engages in conversation.
Valdez was struck by Newey's dedication and posted, “What is this guy doing delivering pizzas? True hustler.” Curious, Valdez decided to learn more.
Upon discovering that Newey worked multiple weekly shifts for Papa John’s, Valdez and his family decided to show their appreciation. They created a Venmo account for their TikTok followers, encouraging small donations—ranging from $0.25 to $1.00—to gather a tip for Newey.
In just one week, they amassed an impressive $12,069 for Newey, who was unaware of the effort. After arranging more deliveries to gather more information, the Valdez family visited Newey’s home with a giant novelty check.
Newey’s reaction was profoundly touching:
They also presented him with the cash in an envelope.
Overwhelmed, Newey said, “How do I ever say thank you? I don't know what to say.”
Newey, who lives alone and works about 30 hours a week delivering pizzas to supplement his Social Security income, was profoundly moved by the support.
Valdez expressed his satisfaction to KSL, saying, “This worked out perfectly. He needed this. I'm happy we could help. We should all treat others with the same kindness and respect he shows. He won our hearts.”
Valdez also shared a thank-you video with his 60,000 TikTok followers, expressing gratitude for the community’s support. He noted that, despite global challenges, the outpouring of kindness was heartening. Valdez mentioned that he would keep the Venmo account open for further donations, ensuring all contributions go directly to Newey.
Kudos to the Valdez family for their generosity and for bringing attention to the wonderful Derlin Newey. Your actions are a powerful reminder of the goodness people can achieve together.