I THINK I ACCOMPLISHED MY GOAL!

 

I think I did it!  I accomplished the goal I set almost three years ago . . . making a difference in the City of Akron!

I haven't picked up trash in Akron since August 26, almost two months ago.  I decided to focus somewhere else.  Keep Akron Beautiful and the City of Akron made me feel foolish for wasting my time picking up trash.  I honestly believed they could do more to keep Akron clean.  Other cities much larger could pick up their trash, so I stopped picking up trash in Akron, and focused all my energy in Barberton.

Last weekend, I went to Barberton to pick up trash, and there wasn't any to pick up!   

What a great day! 

Well earlier this week, I noticed the entrance ramp from Main Street to I-76 was clean!  A dozen black trash bags dotted the ramp on both sides.  Who did that?  I don't know.

So this morning, I drove to the Dollar Store that I cleaned weekly.  I typically picked up a thousand pieces every week here.  It was clean! 

Then I drove to the Speedway at Main & Waterloo.  Another area I typically picked up 2,000 pieces at each week.  Clean!

I drove by the bus station by the Giant Eagle.  The trash can was overflowing, and that means people are picking up their own trash.  Unbelievable!  

I never thought I see the day the bus stop was clean!

I went to the Dollar Store on Waterloo.  This hill was always covered with trash.  It was clean!

On the other side of the parking lot, the burning bushes were all aflame, and the trash, even cigarette butts, that always lined the curb were gone.  What a sight to behold!

Last, I went to the pizza shop at Arlington & Wilbeth.  I haven't seen it this clean, even after I picked up a thousand pieces!

I can't tell you how good I feel.  I could be wrong, but I think my neighbors like Firestone Park clean, and if I'm not going to clean it, they will!  Something is definitely different.

I swept up over 1,500 piles of broken glass, picked up thousands of nails, bolts and screws.  I did the hard work of keeping it clean for 2 1/2 years.  It should not be hard to keep it clean now, and whoever is stepping up to take over for me, THANK YOU!!! 

I live here, and I don't like to see my beautiful neighborhood become a dangerous dumpsite again. I was so afraid that would happen, but it looks amazing!

Before I headed out, I noticed an employee of the pizza shop out sweeping up trash.  I never saw that before.  Good for them! It only takes a few minutes each day to pick up the trash.

We live in such a beautiful world.  We can destroy it, or we can take care of it.

I was feeling so sad, thinking all my hard work was for nothing, but now I know I made a difference. 

I couldn't have done what I did without your encouragement.  

Thank you so much!  

We did it!