Indiana Community Gifts Pizza Delivery Man A Car

An Indiana community is giving back to the man who has delivered pizzas with a smile for 31 years.   Robert Peters, known as Mr. Smiley around the town of Tipton, was gifted a new car after one customer decided to raise donations.  Tanner Langley, 28, a customer of the Tipton Pizza Hut said he and his family have been getting deliveries from Robert Peters since he was a child.

When Peters recently told him he was having trouble with his 28-year-old Oldsmobile, Langley decided it was time to thank Peters for the kindness he has shown the town over the years.  He started a GoFundMe campaign in hopes to buy him a new car. In just 2 days, with donations from the community, he surpassed the $12,000 goal, reaching over $18,000. 

“This community has a countless number of amazing citizens, but there are few people in this world that fill a room with smiles and happiness more than Robert Peters,” Langley wrote on the campaign’s website. “Robert has been delivering pizzas in the same car for a plethora of years, and I think it is about time that he gets an upgrade to his current vehicle!”

On Jan 11, Langley surprised Peters with a 2017 Chevy Malibu. The car’s registration, insurance and taxes were also covered and Peters was given a $500 gas card, plus a $2,500 thank-you tip from the neighborhood.  “He makes an impact on everybody and he’s a very kindhearted individual. Every time you see him, he has a smile on his face. He has never not been joyful”  Langley said in regards to the overwhelming support for Peters. 

Peters was overcome with gratitude for the generosity Langley and the community showed him.  He told news outlets it was heartwarming to know Langley and the community would go out of their way for him.  ” “I couldn’t believe it, it’s almost like it’s surreal.  I just hope that all those who made this happen will be blessed as much as they have blessed me,” Peters said. “This has really been an awesome experience that I’ll remember for the rest of my life. To me, me this is luxury. This is the first car I’ve had made in the 21st century.”