Publix employee with Down Syndrome gets big surprise, pays it forward

by Veronica Citron from Bay News 9: ST. PETE BEACH --  Sean Walerski is a staple at the Publix on Gulf Boulevard in St. Pete Beach. He’s been bagging groceries and stocking shelves there for 9 years.
“I love my customers,” the 29-year-old said.
Walerski has Down Syndrome and relies on his bike to get to work. That bike was stolen last week. 
“Some people are rude ... not cool and not nice,” he said.
Upset about the theft, Walerski vented to shoppers going through the checkout line. Some of those shoppers were St. Pete Beach firefighters. 
“We went into Publix the other day and saw our buddy Sean and he was upset. He told us it was because his bicycle was stolen,” said firefighter Brian Peterson.
The firefighters were moved and bought Walerski a new bike.
“Sean just reaches out to us every day ... makes us happy, makes us smile," Peterson said. "We just wanted to do something to repay that to him.”
Walerski wanted to pay it forward, too. He used the cash some shoppers gave him for a new bike to buy a Publix gift card for the firefighters at Station 23.
Sean’s mother, Rebecca Walerski, is grateful for the generosity.
“Thank you to all of the customers who’ve shown such kindness to him, and the guys at the fire station and everyone who's listened to his story,” she said.

Thief steals special iPad belonging to child with Down syndrome

from WPXI:
Several precious items were stolen from a Washington County family, but one thing in particular will be very difficult to replace.
Among the stolen items was a special iPad belonging to a boy with Down syndrome who has a tough time communicating, Channel 11's Cara Sapida reported.
The thief broke into the Miller family's home just a few days before Christmas and took a laptop, the iPad and even little Elijah's backpack that had in it his folders from school. It's not having the iPad, however, that concerns the family most.
"I thought, 'Oh my god, Elijah's iPad,'" the child's mother, Michele Miller, recalled. "I run in the living room, (and) it's gone. I started crying. I didn't know what to do."
The iPad was specially given to Elijah by the Charleroi School District to help him communicate. The family said they believe the thief would only need a quick look to realize that it belonged to a special boy.
"(It has) bright blue bumper foam pad with a handle," Michele Miller pointed out. "Whenever you turn it on, you can see his pictures, all the sign language apps and other things for a child to learn and communicate."
Elijah's big brother Samuel had a message for the thief.
"Whoever took it, I hope they return it," the 9-year-old said. "Because that isn't just right. It isn't right."
The laptop is missing an F5 key. If you recognize any of those items, you are encouraged to contact Charleroi Police.