The legacy and kindness of a good person never go unnoticed, especially when it helps the poor and the needy. And what exactly defines a good person?
The easiest answer is in the way they treat people, in the gentleness and thoughtfulness they show to those around them.
So when Charlie Poveromo noticed sanitation workers sweating and toiling away during a hot, intense summer without any water eight years ago, he decided to do something about it.
From his kitchen, he carried out a huge jug of water and a bunch of plastic cups, gave all the workers as much water as they wanted.
But he didn’t stop just there- summer would roll around again and again, so this could not be a one-time deal. He decided to go to the store and stocked his cooler with ice and water bottles.
Then, he gave all the sanitation workers an open invitation to quench their thirst from his cooler whenever they needed, which he promised would always be full all summer long.
Later he would even add juice and food to the stockpile, to quench their thirst and to provide an energy boost for the hard work the workers had to do.
This kind deed was not to go unnoticed. Words spread, and soon both Charlie and his wife were visited by many other public servants, such as firemen, policemen, construction workers, and many others.
They would take the opportunity to have a cool drink and a brief respite in the shade of their tree.
Sadly, this was not to last. Charlie soon died at the age of 57 from a heart attack, just three months before the next summer.
Completely preoccupied with funeral arrangements and in mourning, it wasn’t until the weather started getting warm again did Charlie’s wife remember about the cooler and the water bottles, and realized it was now her responsibility to carry on her husband’s tradition.
With a heavy heart, she pushed through her grief and stocked the fridge as usual, albeit with something extra- a note left in the cooler.
The note informed the workers about the passing of her husband, the circumstances behind it, and how she planned to continue the work he had left behind.
The response she received was overwhelming. To her surprise, each worker climbed out of their truck to form a line, whereupon they saluted both her home and herself.
Then they came up to her one-by-one to personally thank her for the kindness she and her husband had shown to them all these years. Before they left, they offered her their solemn condolences, a few words of kindness and a hug.
Thanks to his wife, Charlie’s legacy was not to pass with him, and neither will his kindness be forgotten.
Not only that, it even inspired many others across the country, who have followed in his footsteps to provide free water for workers working through the sweltering heat of summer.
In this way, the legacy he left behind as a good man can never truly die.
