Given our passion here at TranzAct for logistics and supply chain stuff, it is only appropriate that our first Word of Encouragement for 2022 would feature a UPS driver who is “sharing the love” in Chicago.
Before sharing this story, I have a question for you: Have you ever wondered about how one person can make a truly positive difference in the lives of so many other people? If so, then you need to meet Jermaine Marks, a man who has brought smiles and joy to a whole bunch of people.
Jermaine isn’t an entertainer, athlete or a celebrity. He works for UPS and delivers packages along his route here in Chicago. But he doesn’t just deliver packages, he also delivers joy and happiness to his customers. How does he do this?
Well, at Christmas time he either dons his UPS themed Santa outfit, or his UPS Grinch outfit, green fur, pug-like nose and all as he delivers the packages. As his reindeer decorated delivery truck rolls down the street with its big, red nose on the front, he also makes sure folks can hear music coming from the “La La truck.” But most importantly, throughout the year, he always takes time to listen to folks who need to talk.
And make no mistake about it, his customers LOVE him.
For example, this Christmas when he delivered a package to the Bean family dressed as a Grinch, their 5 year old Harrison Bean, loved it when Jermaine made a Grinch like gesture to Harrison with his fluffy fingers. Harrison’s dad noted “That was so nice.” Since Harrison has watched “How The Grinch Stole Christmas” a dozen times this year, his dad Alex commented, “I think his heart must have grown three sizes.”
By the way, Alex’s picture of Jermaine as the Grinch has racked up over 100,000 likes on Twitter. His Christmas costumes change on a yearly basis, so one fan commented: “Every year, everybody is waiting for his costume. He’s something else.”
But bringing joy to residents isn’t just a “Christmas thing.” He does it on a daily basis which is why he has been described by his customers as a “legend of this neighborhood.” Watching Jermaine dance as he delivered his packages, a customer noted: “He’s just a happy soul.” Apparently, one person can make a big difference.
His bosses at UPS are “totally cool” with Jermaine as he brightens customers days throughout the year. For Halloween, he has shown up as werewolf, scarecrow or zombie.
So whether its Christmas music or Motown Classics playing from his truck during the rest of the year, Jermaine knows that he is the “Reality Santa.” As he notes: “All you have to do is order it, and I will bring it. In my job, you’re gonna see Santa all year round. I’m Santa even when I’m out of costume.”
Jermaine loves his job and his customers love Jermaine. He came to UPS after pursuing a career as a professional boxer and he has no intention of going anywhere else.
Previously he took a part-time factory job at UPS — with shifts starting at 2 a.m. Boxing was physically tough and the money wasn’t great. But when his then five year old daughter Jamarielle was diagnosed with leukemia, Jermaine gave up boxing and started working at UPS full-time to support his daughter’s recovery.
He is the father of three kids and Jamarielle’s battle with two different cancers taught Jermaine “the power of remaining present." As he noted: “It humbles you, and it puts you in the perspective of what really matters. I try to smile as much as I can around people, and try to make them happy. That’s my goal.”
And Jermaine never misses the opportunity to pursue that goal. Whether its the music coming from the “La La Truck” or customers who thanked him for his listening ears, Jermaine knows that “Within five minutes of dropping off a package, you can change someone’s whole day.”
Making people happy and bringing them presents feels like a gig with a greater purpose. As Jermaine notes, “The businesses and the families have all been suffering, and they’re in need of some holiday cheer.” Jermaine is living out the verse verses from the Gospel of John: "You shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."
