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?
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.”
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.
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.
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."