Manchester Landscaper's Kindness Earns Notice Of Ford Motor Co.

MANCHESTER A commercial landscaper's tale of a boy and a big red truck caught the eye of Ford Motor Co.

The automaker shared Tom Topping's Facebook posting about his recent encounter with Kevin Fellows on its corporate Facebook page, then offered Topping, the boy and his family free tickets to the Toby Keith concert Saturday in Hartford.

"We love this heartwarming story about a man, a boy and an F-250 from Ford owner Tom Topping of Manchester Green Lawn Services," the Ford posting said. "Read on if you want a smile today."

On July 10, Kevin was visiting his grandmother, Gail Zanlungo, at her Grandview Street home. As Topping unloaded a mower from the heavy-duty pickup and went to work on Zanlungo's lawn, Kevin raced from window to window in the house, watching intently.

Kevin, 15, of Coventry, has Down syndrome, Zanlungo said Tuesday. He has spent many hours at her house playing with toy trucks, so the proximity of the real thing was exceptionally exciting, she said.

"He was pretty fascinated by the whole commercial lawn-mowing process, and actually grabbed a chair to watch me work," Topping wrote in his Facebook post.

"Anyway, he watched as I finished up and then ran over to watch me load the truck," Topping wrote. "I hooked the mower up to the winch and let him push the button to load it into the bed. When it was secure, he hopped in the truck and fastened his seatbelt. His sister and grandmother were out now, and ordered him out of the truck."

Zanlungo said Tuesday that she was surprised by her grandson's boldness..

"What are you doing Kevin?" she remembered asking.

But Topping said it was OK and offered to give Kevin and his younger sister, Hannah, a short ride in the truck he calls "the Big Red Monster."

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Manchester Landscaper's Kindness Earns Notice Of Ford Motor Co.