Roadway Volunteerism

Yesterday morning, I joined a small group of Jefferson County residents to help clean up trash beside Highway 55 in Arnold. These folks love Jefferson County as much as I do, and they show it through their actions. These were just regular citizens--each doing his or her part to make our world a better place.

Road cleanups always provide interesting experiences. I walked slowly with my eyes to the ground. The warm sun to my back and the whoosh of mini-breezes as vehicles buzzed past. After a while, I could taste the salty perspiration generated as I worked.

Each piece of lost or discarded material I found was a key to a past incident and I found myself wondering about the stories each of these items would tell if they could speak. Cigarette butts and plastic convenience store drink cups were common targets. A sprinkling of tire shreds, broken glass and plastic shards of former light fixtures harkened back to darker days in which unknown car accident victims had suffered. A child’s life-vest was likely not purposefully discarded as it was in perfect condition. I turned a corner and came across a small monument to someone’s beloved mother.  On this bright sunny day, the cloud of sadness crept in and I took a moment of silence to pray for the dear woman’s family.

I caught a glimpse of familiar orange vest and walked toward my fellow worker. His bag near full, he meandered toward me. We met up and began walking together, eyes downward pausing periodically to retrieve other lost and discarded items together. He finds a woman’s pocketbook, filled with change, credit cards and a driver’s license. After turning it over to a local police officer, we speculated about the story of its travel to this place. Was this the result of a back seat child’s folly? Was this somehow left behind after a vehicle crash? Perhaps it was strewn here by an angry boyfriend during a high speed altercation. All were mysteries never to be solved.

Through the process, more than roadsides were improved. Friendships were formed, joy was found and hope was reborn. Every time you give your time and work to improve the world, you receive much more than you give. It is my hope and prayer that you take every opportunity to give the gift of yourself to this world. If you need a place to start, call me. I’d be proud to work beside you.