When Kat Holick hung up her traffic agent hat and vest about six weeks ago, children of all ages made a point of thanking the Newtown resident for three years of enthusiastic work. In addition, many adults took the time to offer their thanks - for keeping their children safe, for keeping buses on schedule, for smiling and waving at them as they passed through her work zone, or any combination of the above - by sending or dropping off their own notes and cards. Many also donated to a retirement gift being organized by a Newtown native.

The town's "Dancing Traffic Agent," as she was known, Ms Holick began her work in October 2013, directing traffic before and after Masses at of St Rose Church.

By this year and depending on the time of day, she could also be found standing in the center of two of the town's busiest roadways for four shifts of directing school buses - Church Hill Road for two shifts each weekday, Berkshire Road for the other two. It was Ms Holick's responsibility to direct traffic into and out of school parking lots and as well as the town's largest church, and also safely get pedestrians across the same busy roadway.

She waved and shared huge smiles. During colder months she danced around to keep warm. When students and parents needed to cross the streets, many would share a high-five with Ms Holick, or even a quick hug, a response to the smiles and waves the traffic agent sent out to countless drivers, passengers, and pedestrians every time she worked.

"I have always just hoped to make a difference, one smile at a time," Ms Holick told The Newtown Bee in September.

By the time she retired on September 29, Ms Holick was something of a community celebrity. She had been invited to appear in at least two Labor Day Parades, she was a guest reader at "Risk A Verse," a poetry reading in April 2016; she was recognized as a "Community Helper" by Misty Morning Children's Center, and she was a guest at the Newtown High School Class of 2017 graduation exercises, among other special accolades.

She also launched (and continues to operate) a Facebook page under the name Newtown's Smiling Traffic Agent. Now simply called Smiling Kat, the page shares only positive thoughts and messages, encouraging visitors to do the same.

The thank you cards began pouring in shortly after Ms Holick announced that she would be retiring at the end of September from her beloved position. The part-time job, she said, just wasn't covering enough of the budget for Ms Holick and her husband Steve.

Around the time Ms Holick announced her difficult decision, fellow Newtown native Valerie Dudeck Hart decided to reach out to the community to create a retirement gift. Ms Hart launched a gofundme campaign, and invited everyone to share what they wanted with a woman she called "a staple to the community of Newtown," she wrote in part in the online campaign's page.

Donors shared funds, and thoughts, many of them commenting on the positive attitude they always saw in Ms Holick.

"You set an example in how one can take a job and transform it into a thing of joy and beauty. You are an inspiration to me. God bless you. I'm sad to think you will no longer be seen directing the traffic. Your joy brought me joy," wrote one person.

"She would direct traffic, smile and dance! No hidden agenda. Her simplicity made me happy! Good luck Kat!" wrote another.

Others thanked Ms Holick for her service, for protecting Newtown's children, generosity, and repeatedly, for her smile.

Launched on September 6, the fund received donations from 92 people and reached $4,585 by October 3. That afternoon, Ms Hart met with Kat and Steve Holick at My Place Restaurant. There, Ms Hart handed Ms Holick a card.

When she opened the envelope, Ms Holick smiled. She was greeted with the names of all of those who had donated to the fund coordinated by Ms Hart. Columns of those names filled the inside and back of the card.

Then she noticed a check that was tucked into the envelope. The smile faltered, her jaw literally dropped, and tears filled her eyes and she looked at the numbers on the check, and then at her friend, who was smiling back at her. It was a rare moment, seeing the former traffic agent stunned into silence.

"I don't, I just don't know," Ms Holick stammered, her eyes widening. "This is unbelievable."

"That's for you," Ms Hart told Ms Holick, "from all of us."