After almost half a century, this crossing guard hung up her sign.

Most of us remember the fixtures at our schools growing up. Sometimes it’s a teacher. Other times, it’s a janitor or cook. And in the case of this elementary school in Abington, Pennsylvania, it’s an 89-year-old crossing guard.

A Surprise Send-Off

During her final week this past June, the school’s staff and students decided to give the beloved figure a proper send-off with a retirement party. They showered her with handmade cards, and Abington Township even awarded her a Certificate of Commendation for her years of service.

Kalkbrenner added that she’ll miss the kids and never quite realized how many there were until she was met with so many faces at the party that day.

“I just appreciate it so much that Highland School did this [for] me,” she told the news outlet. “It was just overwhelming… it’s such a full auditorium with all the kids. It was amazing.”

Making a Difference

Miss Dottie is proof that you don’t have to have a glamorous job or a ton of money to make a real difference and that when it comes to the community, you get what you put in. For nearly half a century, this woman was happy helping kids cross the street and get to school safely, and when it came time to retire, her entire community recognized her for her years of dedication and service.

It’s a nice reminder for anyone seeking purpose or meaning in life. Sometimes, the small things make the biggest difference in another person’s day, and you might not even realize your impact until much later.

So, no matter what your corner of the world may look like, find a way to make a slight difference. That could be volunteering, taking on a job with social impact, or even donating a few dollars to a worthy cause when you’ve got some change.

It’s those small things that make a collective difference and help give us all meaning in the long run.