By Isabell Macrina
Hometown Weekly Staff
Stories of people around us changing their every day and putting good out into the word are always inspiring, but when they empower others and can inform others of the power of one person, it becomes so much more. Walpole local Tyler Forgeron was like all of us when the Covid-19 pandemic hit, without work and without purpose. But instead of staying with it, he started collecting cans and bottles to get money back, and he turned right around and donated that to his community.
The story went around Massachusetts and eventually Walpole School Committee member Kari Denitzio reached out to Tyler and they turned his story into a children’s book. “Tyler Can! How One Young Man with Autism Became a Hero” tells Tyler’s story and how when he got in a car accident, the community he helped rallied to his aid and helped him continue his work and eventually get a new car. Even now that Tyler is back to work, he still collects cans for recycling and donates it.
The read-aloud with Denitzio at Dover Town Library was a great event to bring to light the power of one person. Tyler and Denitzio also spoke about autism, which while surrounded with stigma is a part of everyday life and everyone with it is different, so they should be treated the same as anyone else. Tyler’s influence continues to grow, donating to veterans and to fund Alzheimer’s research, even recognized by a few contestants of Survivor, his favorite show! He wants to be on it one day to represent people with autism and bring even more light to the donating. Tyler’s heart surrounds his whole community and they give it right back, and it is positively beautiful.
