It's going to take EVERYONE

Sunday, November 1st, six intrepid Return Servers set out into the world to pick up trash. Litter of all kinds, left on several big name streets in a town we like to call Gresham. We parked and set off in pairs on Burnside Road, 181st and Stark Street. We took gloves and trash bags and enough clothing to keep us warm in the chilly post-Halloween weather. When one bag would get full, we left it and kept walking out with a new bag. When time was up (two hours later) the teams either circled back or called in to HQ to get a ride. We picked up all the bags, and this photo shows the results of our efforts.

Now, here is where the blog post takes a reflective, more sober turn. Litter is one of the most avoidable problems we will ever deal with during our projects. It might not be as important as poverty, but it isn't as complicated and it very well may contribute to those bigger problems anyway. It's such a symbol of problems afoot, and it doesn't seem to me like six people in two hours should find this much trash in front of occupied businesses and homes. The group went to lunch after we gathered up the bags and gave our hands a good washing. We talked a little bit about the problem, but being on your own out there, just you and the trash with cars whizzing by, it's kind of troubling. There wasn't a well-run, cheerful, full-time organization with us this time and I could feel the difference. We'll keep on it, but we'd love your help, too.