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‘A sweet thing to do:’ News 6 anchor thanks neighbors who cleaned up Hurricane Milton yard debris

Louis Bolden shared act of kindness story on Take 6

ORLANDO, Fla. – Fred Rogers once said, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”

It is that sound advice that many have come to rely on after a disaster strikes. There are acts of kindness happening all around.

During News 6′s digital news brief Take 6 on Friday, host Louis Bolden told the story about his neighbors’ unexpected kind gesture during the hours after Hurricane Milton.

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Louis had been on the anchor desk before, during, and after the storm. On the homefront, Louis knew he wouldn’t be getting to a yard debris clean-up right away and it would probably be a weekend job.

“There was debris everywhere, and all of my neighbors were out cleaning up their yards, and I was so exhausted that I said, ‘I just cannot do this,’” Louis told News 6 Meteorologist Julie Broughton.

Before Louis had left the house Friday to anchor the morning newscast, he spotted a note from his husband.

“Apparently, he took a nap, and when he woke up, one of our neighbors was picking up all of the debris in our yard. They blew our driveway. He mowed our grass, he bagged it all up and took it all to the curb,” said Louis. “The first two times I told that story this morning, I got choked up because I was so exhausted. It was such a sweet, sweet thing to do. I just couldn’t imagine somebody doing all it was a lot of work, and he did it.”

News 6 Louis Bolden took this photo of his house on Friday after a neighbor's Milton clean-up. (Copyright 2024 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved.)
News 6 Louis Bolden took this photo of his driveway following a neighbor's unexpected clean-up after Milton. (Copyright 2024 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved.)

John Gutweniger had been watching Louis and News 6′s extensive coverage on Hurricane Milton. Gutweniger not only knew how many hours Louis and the entire News 6 team had been putting in, but how hard they were working.

“So John and his daughter, Aimee, if they happen to be watching, thank you so much from the bottom of my heart. That was the sweetest thing, the sweetest.”

You can watch Louis tell the full story in the media player below.

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