Growing older is something we all have to face. Dealing with the details of retiring, living on a limited income, all becomes reality for most people.
But with that new reality comes some hard truths – sometimes there isn’t enough money to survive on. Suddenly you might find yourself having to come out of retirement to make ends meet.
That’s just what happened to one Utah man, who at 89 years old, should have been home, relaxing. Instead, he was delivering pizzas. But it’s that very job that helped him get his biggest break.
Derlin Newey needed extra money to pay his bills, news outlet KSLTV. So he took a job with Papa John’s Pizza, and began delivering pizzas up to 30 hours a week. It was a job he did with, according to customers, a joy and pizazz that they all enjoyed.
It was that same joy that led one of his customers, Carlos Valdez, to post videos of Newey’s deliveries to the family’s home.
He would say, “Hello, are you looking for some pizza?,” and soon the family began asking for Newey to be their delivery person when they ordered pizza. And then Valdez began putting the visits from Newey on TikTok.
“It’s insane. Everybody loves him.”
Valdez said that many of his 53,000 followers were upset that Newey was still working at his age. “Somebody at that age should not be working that much.”
So Valdez and the internet did what it’s known best for these days – it found a way to raise money. And the Valdez family made a special delivery just to give Newey the surprise of his life.
“Collectively as a TikTok community, we all came together, and we were able to raise $12,000 for this amazing person,” Valdez said.
When the Valdez’s showed up at Newey’s door, his shock was immediate. The family, with cameras rolling, handed the man an envelope filled with cash. “We collectively collected a gift for you, and I’m here to deliver that gift to you on behalf of the TikTok community,” Valdez said.
“How do I ever say thank you? I don’t know what to say,” said the teary-eyed Newey.
I don’t know what to say, except thank you.”
“This couldn’t have gone any better,” Valdez told KSLTV. “He needed this. I’m just glad we could help him. We just need to treat people with kindness and respect the way he does. He stole our hearts.”
Derlin Newey, right, hugs Carlos Valdez after being given a more than $12,000 surprise tip that was donated by Valdez’s viewers from TikTok. Photo by KSLTV
Valdez told KSLTV that Newey didn’t even know what TikTok was, asking, “is that an online group you communicate with each other through the telephone?”
Since the first donation, Valdez has gained another $8,000 for Newey.
When Newey was asked by reporters if he felt that a troubled public safety net that helps the elderly financially after retirement was the reason he had to keep working. He said he didn’t think so, and would want to keep working in his job, even if he hadn’t needed the extra income.
“Oh, man, (it’s) fabulous,” Newey said. “I love the people I’m working with, and I love going to the people’s houses, being useful, and having a pleasant conversation and making friends with people.
For Valdez, it was more than just being able to give Newey money.
“He needed this. I’m just glad we could help him. We just need to treat people with kindness and respect the way he does. He stole our hearts.”
Watch the TikToks below to see the heartwarming connection between this family and their pizza delivery guy.
@vendingheads What is this guy doing delivering Pizzas? True hustler 🙏 #fyp #delivery #nest #nestdoorbell #amazon #amazonprime #fedex #ups #usps ♬ Wii – Mii Channel – Super Guitar Bros
@vendingheads Here it is 😍 #fyp #venmochallenge #🍕man #love #blessed #gift #lovewins ♬ Aesthetic Girl – Yusei
