After Becoming Friends, Garbage Collector Rearranges Route to Work Around 3-Year-Old's Preschool Schedule (Exclusive)

John Coleman's mom tells PEOPLE her son runs out to greet Craig Hodges every week, even bringing him an apple or some other tasty snack

Illinois boy John Coleman, 3, has lots of toys and activities to keep him busy, but the thing he most looks forward to every week is garbage collection day on Tuesdays.

That’s when a big lime green truck rolls up to his house in Roanoke, driven by one of his favorite people: Craig Hodges. John runs out to greet the waste collector, bringing him an apple or other treat, while Hodges scoops the boy up for a big hug and lets him climb into the truck and toot the horn. John loves those few moments so much he sometimes cries when Hodges pulls away.

“Beep beep your horn,” he’s been saying that forever,” John’s mother, Kayla Coleman, tells PEOPLE.

Sadly, a change in John’s schedule threatened to end this happy weekly meeting when the tot was about start preschool, which meant he wouldn’t be home when Hodges arrived.

Hodges, who could not be reached for comment, decided he didn’t want to disappoint his little buddy, so he managed to rearrange his route so John could still see him, according to Coleman. Now instead of arriving in the morning, Hodges shows up in the afternoon after John arrives home.

“We were super appreciative that he could rearrange everything for us,” Coleman says. “His snacks got a little bit better!”

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Since meeting about 10 months ago, John’s bond with Hodges has grown so strong that “they’re best friends now,” Coleman says.

“I love the trash truck,” John said. “Craig is my friend.”

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Their unlikely friendship began after Coleman noticed that her son was enamored with the trucks and suggested he bring a snack to the driver. “I really want my kid to learn how to be kind and show appreciation,” she says.

John was immediately on board with the plan and now waits excitedly at the window for the truck to rumble down the street.

“He was like, ‘Is it trash truck day? Is it trash truck day?’ Most people count down to Friday but we were counting down until Tuesday,” Coleman says.

Related: 13-Year-Old Boy Uses His 'Make-a-Wish' to Feed the Homeless for a Year: 'It Warms Our Hearts'

When the truck pulls up, John grabs a piece of fruit or other snack and races out to greet Hodges. “Poor Craig has seen me in more pajamas than my husband,” Coleman says jokingly.

John gets a chance to climb inside, turn the wheel and honk the horn. “He pretends to load the trash and Craig lets John push the buttons and he’ll educate him on everything,” Coleman says.

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Hodges wanted to keep that bond going so changed his day around in September when John started school, Coleman says.

“Craig told me this is his favorite part of his week,” Coleman says. “He said, ‘I could be having a bad week but I know tomorrow I’m going to see this little boy and it’s going to make my whole day.”

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