**Headline:** From Trash to Treasure: How One Colorado Springs Woman’s Weekly Meals Became a Beacon of Gratitude for Her Sanitation Crew

**COLORADO SPRINGS, CO** – For the past year in a northeast Colorado Springs neighborhood, the familiar rumble of the Apex Waste Solutions truck has been met with an uncommon act of kindness. Resident Ariahna Whiteside has made it a weekly tradition to provide meals and snacks for her sanitation drivers, a gesture of gratitude that began with an apology and has since blossomed into a cherished routine.

The inspiration for this weekly act of kindness, Whiteside explained, came from a very practical problem: too much trash. “We moved into this place and had a bunch of boxes, garbage bags, and too much to where it didn’t fit in the can,” she recalled. Feeling bad about the overflow, she decided to do more than just hope for the best.

“I felt bad one day, and I just went out there and put some energy drinks out on the trash can and introduced myself, and said, ‘Hey I’m sorry, it might be like this for a couple weeks while unpacking,'” Whiteside said. “And it has just turned into a weekly thing.”

What started as a one-time apology has evolved into a consistent display of appreciation. Whiteside, who aims to teach her daughters the importance of gratitude, now prepares something for the crew every week. The offerings vary, reflecting her love for cooking and what she has on hand.

“Sometimes it’s more creative with a here’s an actual meal, or hey I’ve got a couple snacks in my pantry, or here’s a muffin I made last night,” she said. “I love cooking in general, so it is fun for me to be able to do this.”

For Keoni Kaneshiro, a sanitation driver with Apex Waste Solutions, the gesture does not go unnoticed. It’s a welcome and heartwarming part of his route.

“I come by and they do that and I really appreciate it so much,” Kaneshiro said. He recalled one specific meal, noting, “Great, I ate that sandwich and I got pretty full.”

Whiteside’s commitment is fueled by a desire to recognize those in physically demanding and often overlooked professions. “I just wanted to keep it going because they are often overlooked and doing all this hard labor every day,” she stated. “I want to make sure they have someone who is taking care of them a little bit.”

This dedication persists even through personal challenges. “Even in hard times, you know we are a single family income and have been for a really long time,” Whiteside shared. “It doesn’t matter, I am still going to give what we have.”

Ultimately, Whiteside hopes the simple act of sharing a meal creates a positive ripple effect that extends far beyond her curb, inspiring a chain reaction of goodwill throughout the community. She hopes that when the drivers receive this kindness, “they act kind towards someone else in any regard throughout the day.”