On July 3, 46-year-old Joseph Tindal and coworker Gibson Bell were spinning signs near the street outside a Domino’s in Ellettsville when a car veered onto the sidewalk. The vehicle struck a mailbox located on the property next door at Kal’s Discount Tobacco, ripping the pole and its concrete base out of the ground.

The mailbox – secured inside a five-gallon bucket of cement – flew into Tindal’s leg.

Domino’s Manager Joy Stierwalt, who was nearby, recalled one of the first things Tindal said to the driver while lying on a stretcher: “Just wanted you to know I’m not dead.”

Tindal was rushed to the hospital and received several stitches in his leg and needed a walking boot.

“I’m doing a lot better,” Tindal said. “I’m back to work and been working since.”

Now the community is stepping up to support.

Domino’s recently dedicated proceeds from its regularly held charity event, Super Saturday, to help Tindal and Bell with recovery needs. The extra funds were donated to Stone Belt, a nonprofit that provides resources and support for people with disabilities in south-central Indiana.

Tindal says he used to work at Stone Belt, making the cause closer to home.

The incident, however, also sparked debate in the community.

Stierwalt said Domino’s faced a wave of criticism on social media after the incident, particularly on Facebook, with some commenters accusing the business of putting Tindal at risk by having him work outside.

She said those reactions overlook how meaningful the job is to him.

“But if the community would come together and see Joe and interact with Joe, they would see how much, Joe standing out there holding that ‘All you can eat $10’ sign brings joy to him,” Stierwalt said.

Stierwalt said the negative comments reminded her that people often judge without knowing the full story. But one comment stood out and stuck with her.

“It talked about how Joe stood beside the street and waved at cars for 23 years for free, and now he’s getting paid to do something he loves,” she said. “And I wish everybody would take a step back and look at it through Joe’s eyes.”

Tindal has since recovered from his injuries and has returned to work spinning signs outside the Ellettsville Domino’s.

General Manager Jennifer Russ said the incident has only strengthened the store’s commitment to supporting local organizations and residents.

“When everyone comes together, it’s beautiful,” she said. “My goal is to have a dine and donate every night of the week.”

More information on upcoming fundraisers and community initiatives that Domino’s holds can be found on their Facebook page.