The summer weather can be cruel in many states, and Charles ‘Charlie’ Poveromo stepped up for his community.
It started one summer when sanitation workers stopped by their New Jersey home, and he saw that they were pale and sweating profusely.
He knew he had to do something, so he grabbed a jug of water and plastic cups and ran outside to relieve these hardworking men.
That was the start of Charlie’s Cooler.
Charlie set up a cooler under their tree, placed bottles of water and ice, and a note telling people they could “help themselves” to the thirst quenchers to beat the summer heat.
He did all this in the morning before he headed to work and had been doing so for years until his untimely passing.
Sadly, Charlie suffered a heart attack in 2016.
They rushed the beloved bartender to the hospital but unfortunately, he didn’t make it.
His wife, Velvet, was lost and heartbroken but soon realized that there was something her husband left her that she had to take over; a legacy he left behind.
Velvet posted on her Facebook profile how she came with the epiphany to continue Charlie’s Cooler.
She noticed the temperature was rising outside and knew their community workers would need something to cool them down.
Velvet knew that she had to live out her husband’s legacy.
She wrote:
“I had promised myself and him that I would do my best to respect what he had accomplished during his time here, not realizing at the time the joy it would end up bringing me!!”
In a heartbeat, Velvet went to the convenience store and bought some bottled water and ice.
She set up the cooler like Charlie would and wrote a note for everyone to notice so they could help themselves with a cool treat.
She may not have noticed anybody get from the cooler, but to see it empty at the end of the day, she knew that the cold drinks were a warm welcome to them.
This went on for days, but what Velvet didn’t expect was how this would inspire others.
One Thursday, after restocking the cooler, she heard a garbage truck pull up, and everyone on that truck, including the driver, went down.
She was surprised as the men lined up and gave her a salute!
Then, they approached and hugged her for all the kindness she and Charlie had done for the rest of the community for the past years.
Velvet wrote in her post:
“I watched in awe as each man stepped off the truck, the driver getting out to join them and in a straight line they stood together and saluted our home and me!!”
She continued:
“As is happening at this very moment, my eyes filled with tears and my body began to tremble as one by one they each came up to me, grasped my hand, gave me a hug and told me how very sorry they were and that no one had ever shown them the thoughtfulness and appreciation my husband had and then slowly, one by one, they each took a water bottle or two, climbed back up on the truck and gave a loud beep as they drove off.”
But that’s not the only good thing that came out of this. Velvet didn’t know that Charlie’s Cooler would become a movement.
It started with Charlie’s sister, Monica Pidhorecki, and other family members who also set up coolers in their yard.
They called it the same thing, Charlie’s Cooler, in honor of their beloved.
They even posted it on social media using the hashtag #CharliesCooler.
Try to search for that hashtag and see how this generous act has spread in the community.
Different households from all over the neighborhood were doing the same, and Velvet couldn’t imagine it would turn out like this.
She even told them they don’t have to name their coolers after Charlie, but they don’t mind; after all, he inspired this.
Velvet also received anonymous donations delivered to her home, and for that, she’s grateful.
Watch the video below to learn more about Velvet’s effort to honor Charlie’s tradition!
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