NewsTreasure CoastRegion St Lucie CountyPort St Lucie

Actions

Port St. Lucie boy celebrates birthday with special visit from garbage collectors

A Port St. Lucie boy received a special visit and gifts from his local garbage collectors on Sept. 1, 2023.
Posted
and last updated

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — A Port St. Lucie boy is turning 7 years old on Saturday and some special guests helped him celebrate.

The child, Gabrielle, is a huge fan of his local garbage collectors.

He has a speech impediment that he developed from seizures at a young age.

Gabrielle shows off the gifts he received from the generous garbage crew on Sept. 1, 2023.
Gabrielle shows off the gifts he received from the generous garbage crew on Sept. 1, 2023.

"My heart is overfilled right now with joy," mother Melanie Yanez said. "He was so surprised. I would never think in a million years this could happen for him. Garbage trucks are something that make him very, very happy."

But that doesn't stop him from waiting for his local cleanup crew every day, often giving them bottles of water to keep cool during the summer.

Knowing how much he loves garbage trucks, a family friend spent months planning with garbage company FCC, who came through with a big surprise.

The little boy received a new vest, shirt and a chance to climb into the crew's truck.