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Family flags down exhausted UPS driver and invites him to 'make a plate' at family cookout

They told the driver to spread the word to his colleagues: Everybody's invited.

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UPS driver invited to family's cookout.

Food really is what brings us together, and that's why family cookouts are the ultimate get-together. Good food, good people, and good quality time together. Invites are usually extended to close friends and kin—but one family extended the invite to a UPS driver (and total stranger) working a shift on a holiday weekend, proving community and hospitality are still alive and well.

TikToker @1fanto shared a touching video with his followers from Easter weekend where his family invited a UPS driver making rounds in their neighborhood to come to their cookout and 'make a plate.'

"Everybody family around here 😭," he captioned the video. "Everybody invited to the cookout.😂"

@1fanto

Everybody family around here 😭 #easter #cookout #wherethefunction

In the video, the UPS driver is seen standing in the family's driveway, and a group of cookout attendees warmly welcome him to join them. The uncle of @1fanto says to the driver, "You've been working hard all day man, you can go on in there!" He calls out for a woman named Stephanie to "take care of him!"

The UPS driver walks up the driveway, and they encourage him to go inside and get his fill as he enters the garage. After securing a plate of food and a drink, the driver walks back outside to mingle with guests, shaking hands with the uncle who invited him.

"You good?" the uncle asks, and the driver responds, "Yeah I'm good. They hooked me up. Thank you so much. Appreciate y'all for inviting me out." On his way back to his truck, the uncle encourages the driver to invite other workers to stop by as well.

@1fanto

Explaination to last video! Thank yall for the support really appreciate it. Yall are invited to the next cookout 🤝. #easter #cookout #fyp #upsdriver #invitedtothecookout

In a follow up video, @1fanto explained more about how the invite went down. He shares that the UPS driver was driving by the family's house on the Saturday before Easter, and at the time the family was enjoying a big fish fry cookout together. His uncle flagged the driver down, and he pulled over.

He shares that his uncle told the driver, "Go inside and get you a plate!" The driver asked him, "Are you sure?" But he reassured him, adding that the family made sure to ask the driver what he wanted and didn't want on his plate to "make sure he was good and got everything he needed".

ups, delivery driver, delivery man, mailman, family cookout UPS delivery is extremely hard work. Photo by Gavin on Unsplash

"I saw it had a positive impact. That's what my family do. That's not something that we just do for social media," @1fanto shared. "That's something that we do on a regular basis that doesn't just happen when the camera's on. It happens when the camera's off, too. We're all equal. We all bleed the same."

Viewers had lots of positive things to say in the comment section.

"I am a UPS driver and that makes our day. People showing love to us"

"Your family represents the best of America🫶🏼 Your uncle is now all of our uncle."

"Working the holidays suck. But they made that man’s entire day. Love it."

"I love when people are nice for no reason. You’re so real ♥️thank you for being so kind."

Being a delivery driver is grueling, often thankless work. It's awesome to see a family that remembers those hardworking folks are essential parts of our communities.

This article originally appeared in April. It has been updated.

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Veteran dad couldn’t help 9-year-old girl with her cheer routine, so a classmate came to the rescue

He sprang to help without hesitation, and many witnessed the kindness firsthand.

Images from YouTube video.

Addie Rodriguez does her cheer.

Addie Rodriguez was supposed to take the field with her dad during a high school football game, where he, along with other dads, would lift her onto his shoulders for a routine. But Addie's dad was halfway across the country, unable to make the event.

Her father is Abel Rodriguez, a veteran airman who, after tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, was training at Travis Air Force Base in California, 1,700 miles from his family in San Antonio at the time.

"Mom missed the memo, it was parent day, and the reason her mom missed the memo was her dad left on Wednesday," said Alexis Perry-Rodriguez, Addie's mom. She continued, "It was really heartbreaking to see your daughter standing out there being the only one without their father, knowing why he's away. It's not just an absentee parent. He's serving our country."

A high schooler notices what’s happening and runs to help

inspiring, culture, mental health, friendship, mentorsAddie Rodriguez and Mathew Garcia.Images from YouTube video.

But as Addie sat there in front of the game's crowd, with no one to join her on the field, someone ran toward her. That person was Central Catholic High School senior Matthew Garcia, who went to her after realizing she was the only cheerleader without a partner.

Garcia told local news station FOX 29, "I ran down from the bleachers right here, and I just hopped the fence, and I went over, and I kneeled down, I talked to her and I said, 'Are you OK?'"

He then lifted Addie onto his shoulders just like the dads did with their daughters so she could participate in the routine. Many onlookers quickly realized they were witnessing an extraordinary act of kindness, and social media was abuzz:

For Addie, the small act meant everything

It may have been a small gesture for Garcia, but as Addie tells it, that little bit of assistance meant the world to her. They posed for a picture after the routine was done, and it's clear this will be one encounter she won't soon forget.

"I just felt like somebody saved my life," Addie said, adding, "I thought that's so nice, especially since my dad's serving for us.”

Watch the YouTube video below:

In the years since...

In the years since that moment, Matthew Garcia has been recognized in more formal ways for his compassion. In 2017, he was honored at the Musial Awards, an event celebrating sportsmanship and character, for the loving act that turned a child’s pain into a moment of inclusion and kindness.

Matthew and Addie’s families have kept in touch. On the day Addie’s father returned from deployment, he made a point of visiting Matthew at his high school to personally thank him for what he did.

Even though the news cycle has largely quieted, the impact of that small gesture still echoes, both for Addie, who said she felt “somebody saved my life,” and for Matthew, who later reflected that one tiny action can ripple outward far more than one might expect.

This article originally appeared four years ago.

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67-year-old woman offers her three super helpful pieces of advice for women in their 50s

"I am going to give you my 17-year advantage viewpoint, okay?”

@savingdinner/Instagram

Leanne Ely has some aging advice that's actually great for any age.

We all have a different idea of what “aging gracefully” looks like, but it seems inarguable that we’d all like to get older in a way that feels healthy and fulfilling.

For women especially, helpful advice in this arena can feel hard to come by for a number of reasons. Blame it on historically claiming caretaking roles (and therefore not always acquiring self care skills), societal messaging of “women shouldn’t age, period,” or some other outdated nonsense.

Luckily, a bit of life advice from those who actually have made it to the golden years intact tends to help cut through the noise. New York Times bestselling author and the creator of SavingDinner.com, Leanne Ely just came out with a video with three key pieces of advice for women entering their 50s (especially perimenopausal women) who want to maintain their physical and mental wellbeing.

“If you are 50, I have a word of advice for you. I'm 67. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt,” Ely quipped at the beginning of her clip. “I am post-menopausal now, and so I am going to give you my 17-year advantage viewpoint, okay?”

Without further ado, here’s what Ely suggested:

1. Lift weights

saving dinner, aging, older women, menopause, perimenopause, life advice, elderly advice, womens health An older woman lifting weights. Photo credit: Canva

“Preserve your bone, do everything in your power to use your body as the strength machine that it is,” Ely explained. “You don't want to be walking around complaining about your knees or your hip pain or whatever it is.”

“Your body needs to cooperate with your dreams. And the way that you do this is by getting in the best shape of your life. And I am not kidding. Move it or lose it and that goes for your muscles.”

She added that exercise alone can’t accommodate muscle health, and offered the tried-and-true advice of maintaining a balanced diet, saying, “...Feed your body like it is the most important person in your life. Feed it like your baby. Make sure that you're getting the right amount of protein, that you're hydrating correctly, and that you are feeding your mind...”

But it’s not just the body that needs to, as Ely put it, “cooperate with your dreams.” Relationships do too, which brings us to…

2. That man is not worth skipping your dreams for

saving dinner, aging, older women, menopause, perimenopause, life advice, elderly advice, womens health A woman and her supportive (or perhaps unsupportive) partner. Photo credit: Canva

“Do you hear me?” said Ely. “I cannot tell you how many poor relationships I've been in and that includes way back then when I was 50. I spent nine years in a relationship with a man who looked down on me, and I didn't even see it.”

Of course, the best protection against this happening, Ely noted, is having a healthy self-esteem in the first place. Because “when you feel good about yourself and you know yourself, that is gonna trump all of the garbage that any man can throw your way.”

Which brings us to…

3. Be content with yourself

saving dinner, aging, older women, menopause, perimenopause, life advice, elderly advice, womens health A content older woman smilingPhoto credit: Canva

“Know who you are. Stand firm in that person of who you are. This is important because you aren't here to be someone's second fiddle. You're not here to be degraded and spoken down to and condescended to and gas lit. You are here on purpose and for purpose. You are a human being and you are important. Just as you are. Without ever doing anything, you're here on purpose and for purpose and think about what that means. That means that you came to this earth because you were needed to be here on this earth and your purpose maybe it is yet to be found. But I do know this, if you work towards something that you love, you will find your purpose.”

This last one is a lesson so many of us take a lifetime to learn regardless of how many times we hear it, but always a good reminder.

Unsurprisingly, Ely’s video quickly racked up over 60,000 views and a flood of comments thanking her for her truly sage wisdom.

For many, it harkened back to a time when we were actually able to seek out advice like this from older women.

“This is why so many ancient cultures revered older women as the wise goddesses they are. Perfect advice. 56 here and these words grow stronger every day. 🙌💪”

Thank you for sharing! We as Gen X women need more older women role models like this. The “little frail old lady” stereotype was everywhere in our culture when we were growing up—no wonder we’re kinda scared to age. But here is a woman who is strong and vibrant and more self assured as she ages. I’m inspired! ✨

Others shared how they were already taking some of this advice, particularly tip #1—and reaping the benefits from it.

“65 year old here, I started adult ballet at 50 and can confirm that it changed my life. Now, 15 years later I take 4 classes per week; 2 of them are Pointe classes, something I never thought in my wildest dreams I would accomplish. I'm in the absolute best shape of my life. Doing splits and back bends, lifting weights and ensuring adequate protein intake to maintain my passion for ballet. It's been a life changer for my health, my mental wellbeing and my soul.”

“You are SO right!! I began putting priority on my work outs around age 54. I am 59 now. I feel as strong and healthy as when I was 35. People are commenting about me aging in reverse. Yes skin scare matters. But truly it is the work out!!! It is the protein and healthy diet. You are SO right! ✨🥰✨”

It probably goes without saying, but this is clearly great advice for any stage of life. Then again, the best advice is usually timeless.

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A man had a heart attack during a comedy show and the audience stepped in to save his life

"What a wonderful reminder of all the good in the world."

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Audience members perform CPR on a man at a comedy show.

Comedian Drew Lynch was on stage mid-set in Spokane, Washington, when he suddenly heard a commotion in the audience. In a video capturing the event, Lynch is seen observing a man in distress. He pauses and asks, "Is everything okay?" An audience member replies, "No!"

Lynch, realizing the severity of the situation, asks, "Is there a medic in the house?" Someone else in the audience frantically screams, "I'm calling 911 right now!" We hear a woman's voice over what sounds like chest compressions say, "CPR started." Another helpfully replies, "I can be your second." The first woman says, "No pulse," and the other confirms, "No pulse."

At this point, Lynch is visibly distraught. The first woman enthusiastically shares, "I think I found a pulse." Audience members begin to gather closer, and Lynch says into the mic, "Thanks, guys. Some room, guys."

A man says, "He's waking up," as we hear ambulance sirens in the near distance. The man continues, "Sir? Can you hear me?" The chyron on the clip says "Paramedics arrive," as a man's voice soothes, "I'm gonna take care of you, okay?"

Some time elapses as we now see a split screen of people with hats reading "SFD" (Spokane Fire Department) taking the man off on a stretcher, while Lynch watches from the stage. A woman says, "Good job, everybody," while the entire room applauds.

What happens next is absolutely beautiful. Still armed with the same microphone that he had just been telling jokes with, Lynch wipes tears from his eyes and asks, "Can I just take a second, guys? Cuz like, that was incredible, dude. Like I know we're here making jokes and doing a bunch of s--t about the town. But you guys all came together in a really cool way, dude." He begins to openly sob, while the audience claps for him. "You saved that guy's life, man," he says. The audience starts clapping louder, adding whistles.

Lynch takes a deep breath and continues, "I mean, that was crazy. You guys worked together so fast, I mean…" He pauses, while an audience member yells out, "Spokane does care!" Lynch adds, "That was nuts, guys. You guys should like…to just witness that, I mean. That was crazy." He then jokes, "I have literally the hardest job in the world now." This gets a big, much-needed laugh from the crowd. A woman hands him some napkins to wipe his tears, which he uses. "I'm dabbing my eyes, I'm like a widow at a funeral, like literally," he says.

Someone suggests he take five, but he remains. "Yeah, no, I mean…" Lynch says. He begins to cry again and can barely push the words out: "Can you guys give a hand to the people who saved that guy's life? That was crazy." Another big round of applause follows, this time with with a standing ovation.

comedy club, microphone, comedy, comedian A microphone on a stand in front of a brick wall at a comedy club. Photo by Simon H on Unsplash

On his Instagram page, Lynch wrote a lengthy message to his fans:

"At a show this past weekend in Spokane, something happened that I will never forget. In the middle of my set, a man in the audience collapsed from a heart attack. What happened next was one of the most powerful examples of community and human connection I’ve ever seen.

Without hesitation, people in the audience began taking turns performing CPR, clearing space for paramedics, and monitoring his vitals. He had no pulse for over 5 minutes. With the combined efforts of total strangers, and honestly, by what felt like a miracle that night, he was revived right there in the room.

The entire audience came together in that moment—no egos, no identities, no division—just one goal: saving a life.

The next day my funny friends @akeemthefunnyguy, @rachelafllejecomedy, and I visited Mr. Wende in the hospital to finish the show for him. Getting to laugh and share stories with his family for hours in the hospital was the reminder I needed of why comedy is so needed—especially in times when the world feels so torn apart.

HUGE thank you to the people of Spokane, the brave medical professionals, and the Wende family for bringing this man into my life and reminding me just how special community can be. #spokane."

@thedrewlynch

Just wanted to give an update from the shows last night. #spokane

The comment section was equally moved and supportive. The first response was from the man's (referred to as Mr. Wende) granddaughter. She writes, "It’s a hard watch, but the people who did the CPR saved his life. We are so grateful for the extra time with my grandpa and so grateful for everyone’s support and love!"

A healthcare worker in the comments adds, "As a health care worker I heard ‘I’m calling 911, no pulse, CPR started, I can be your second, sir can you hear me, I’m gonna take care of you.’ ♥ I love my people."

Another shares that, per Lynch's Instagram stories, Mr. Wende was a retired speech therapist.

Lovingly, this fan responds, "What a wonderful reminder of all the good in the world. And a testament to you, Drew, that this is who your audience is."

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