From Litter to Laughter

You may have heard the story of Amy and Saurabh, who met at a cleanup, fell in love, and are now parents to Baby Zoya. Or perhaps Jill and Mel, who connected through TGRC and became fast friends. I've also forged my own friendships, like with Tylor and Rick. But what truly caught me off guard was the bond I'd form with two particular guys.

Working alongside Johnny and Dave has transformed routine litter cleanups into experiences full of camaraderie and laughter. I met them both through our Workforce program, and they quickly stood out. Johnny, who seems to know everyone in Raleigh (I swear), is usually quiet but knows just when to crack a joke. Then there’s Dave, the live wire—a man in his 60s with the unstoppable energy of a teenager.

Nowadays, it’s rare to find me without one or both of them at my side. They do more than just help lighten the workload; they brighten my entire day. We're just a couple of guys rolling around, cleaning out streams, scrapping metal, telling jokes and of course, grabbing a sandwich at the Lunch Box Deli.

We’ve created countless memories in our time together, but they're all sure to endure. Especially that time Dave's energy had us laughing so hard I almost wrecked the truck.

You won't hear them complain about their circumstances, some of which many would find daunting. Instead, you'll see them lacing up their boots, smiles on their faces, ready to see which of us will throw the next verbal jab. They say insults are a language of intimacy among men.

This journey has reminded me that although I abhor litter and dream of eradicating it from the earth, it has ironically been the catalyst for some of the coolest moments of my life. - Preston

𝐌𝐄𝐆𝐀𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐄 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐍

Hi everyone! I’m Megan, nice to meet you! Some of you may have met me already, or seen me hovering behind Preston and Kaley, but I’d like to officially introduce myself. I am a senior at NC State, studying 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗕𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆. I am currently enrolled in a class called “𝐍𝐨𝐧𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐢𝐭 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 & 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭”, where I have been partnered with The Great Raleigh Cleanup for the semester. In other words, I’m Preston and Kaley’s intern!

Over the past few months, I’ve worked alongside The Great Raleigh Cleanup, helping them with their blooming partnership with Sound Rivers and helping them plan and host The Great Raleigh Campout. Kaley and I spent our Wednesday mornings together, checking on our stream trash traps. I loved having the opportunity to start my day outside, all while making a positive impact on my community (even if the waders were less than flattering!). The Great Raleigh Campout was a great way to peek into the world of how non-profits function, and how fun fundraising can be. Plus, I got to meet so many of you wonderful folks! The community that surrounds The Great Raleigh Cleanup is truly amazing to witness; keep up the good work y’all!

As my time as an intern comes to an end, I would like to thank Preston and Kaley for giving me the chance to walk in their footsteps. They work harder than anyone else I know, and I hope they know that their hard work does not go unnoticed. Y’all are changing lives! And don’t fret, I’ll be sticking around, even if I’m no longer an intern. If you see me, say hi! - Megan

𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐃𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 👏🏾

Recently, two of our Workforce members tackled litter near the exit ramps of I-440 on Wake Forest Road, removing 360 pounds of litter and debris. Some of this litter comes from those panhandling on the exits. We mention this not to judge—everyone faces unique challenges—but to share how proud we are that, despite their own struggles with employment and housing, our team members have chosen to work, earn, and make a positive difference in the community. Their dedication is a testament to resilience and pride in earning an honest living, shining through in every task they take on. Let’s all do our part to keep our community clean and support those working hard to make a positive change.

It was just supposed to be something to do… now its so much more!

2020 was a hell of a year. In February I lost my mother to cancer, and a month later, COVID changed the world as we knew it. But as an introvert and only child, I thought staying inside and away from people would be easy. After a few months, even I wanted to go outside. But when I did, the city I moved to 20 years ago no longer looked the same. There was litter everywhere.

I felt compelled to act. I figured cleaning up an area one time would solve the problem, and I’d move on to the next. How naive! On October 17, 2020, I posted our first event on meetup.com thinking maybe it would become maybe a once-a-month hobby. Maybe with 3 to 4 volunteers - if I was lucky. Four years later, with more than 150,000 pounds of litter removed, nearly 2,000 volunteers, 300+ cleanups, 50+ landfill diversions, partnerships, Amy and Saurabh having a baby, and of yeah, this Workforce thing, I never saw it coming.

But we are just getting rolling. There’s still so much more ahead. I’m proud of what we’ve done and excited for what’s to come. I hope you’ll be a part of it. - Preston