Even though community cleanup days across the Southeast have been cancelled this spring, a number of people have using this warmer spring weather as an excuse to get outside and clean up litter.

Randy Reimer is the Head of Public Works for the City of Steinbach. He notes not only he has seen Elsa Hops cleaning up garbage in Steinbach on a number of occasions this spring, but he’s also seen her cleaning up litter in Steinbach for more than a decade now.

Hops says she normally goes for hour-long walks and can’t help but clean up whatever litter she sees.

"I start walking and I think 'today I don't pick them up' and then I am walking and I see there is garbage here and I start with my hands because I know where are all the garbage cans are and when I find a bag you know a used bag flying around and then I use the bag."

Reimer notes Elsa is an amazing resident of Steinbach and with Pick Up and Walk Cancelled this year, we could be a little bit more like her.

Meanwhile in Lorette, Roxane Gagne says she has been having a tough time keeping her son motivated on in his at-home schoolwork so one day they decided to do something a little more active.

"I just thought ‘you know what, let’s just go do something outside and something that is good for him to learn other than just go for a walk.’ So, we started picking up garbage. He actually enjoyed it, thought it was kind of fun and was proud of the work we had done especially when we walked back and it was so clean."

Gagne says the schools in Lorette normally organize a community cleanup day but of course that isn’t happening this year. She says she has encouraged other families in the community to do the same and a number of them have taken up the challenge which has been very encouraging.

Read more: Pick Up and Walk Cancelled Indefinitely 

Even though Pick Up and Walk has been cancelled this year due to COVID-19, organizer Grace Hiebert says that doesn’t mean there isn’t still work to do.

"Each year we save the city about $90,000 and it would be wonderful if we would all do our part to not have to spend that money on cleaning it up so pick up a bag and take the people you live with and go on a different walk every day and if you see other people cleaning up there, go somewhere else. I think it would make a huge difference."

Hiebert says it doesn't matter when you choose to get out and help clean up the community. Just pick any day, go for a nice walk, and be sure to take a garbage bag with you.

Eldon Wallman is the Head of Solid Waste for the City of Steinbach. He notes they have already noticed more people cleaning up the community than normal and he thinks it is a great idea.

"There are no bag limits at the end of your driveway so if you want to pick up some stuff, you go ahead and do it and we will be there to take it away for you."