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Judy picks up trash at the on/off ramps of 275 And Hillsborough Ave. |
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"Most people are really nice and help me out with providing a place for me to dump what I've picked up." |
| Like Tony, the maintenance man at Seminole Heights Baptist Church , who allows me to leave the trash I pick up along the 275 ramps at the back of the church |
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property. He takes what I've bagged and puts it in their dumpster. We help each other out like that and we all win. |
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"Do you ever get discouraged and think about giving up on this?" She was quiet for a moment so I went on. " I ask only because I know I would!" |
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"Every once in awhile," she admitted. "But if I did I'd never catch the Pepsi guy!" |
| "Every week when I pick up over here I find Pepsi cans dumped right here by this sign. He's either a Pepsi truck driver or somebody that's hooked on the stuff. So if I gave up I'd never have the joy of catching that guy." |
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There were many other things we talked about that day. Like what it would take to get everyone to do a small part of the work to keep their neighborhoods clean. By the time we parted I was truly convinced that I had been in the presence of an angel. I had the impression this was more the avenging kind of angel, with flashing eyes and a flaming sword, rather than the sweet kind. |
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This page updated on feb 13 2006 © Jack D. Singer 2005 / 2006 All Photos by Jack D. Singer © 2005 |
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Every day of the week Judy Greer runs. Now that's incredible, considering that she's 60-something. But also on three of those days she does something even more incredible; she actually goes around and picks up the trash that litters the streets of Tampa! |
| I've been watching her do this for several years now. Matter of fact, she's even got me doing it now! |
| One day I stopped and asked her what was up--why she did this. Much to my surprise she said, "Well, it's my 'hood' too!" I quickly set up an interview so we could talk more. |
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Judy explained that there are three different routes she covers every week. Each route varies somewhat in size so they take anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour and a half to clear of garbage. She laughed and said that also, people often stop to chat; but she considers that time well spent. I noticed when we set out walking she was without bags. Thinking this was an oversight on her part I told her I had remembered to bring some for both of us. I was surprised that she turned me down. "I never have to bring my own," Judy said. "I just pick one up off the ground." She reached down and, like magic, came up with a plastic bag. "See what I mean?" "All right, that explains where they come from," I conceded. "But where do you dump them when their full? |
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"Most people are really nice and let me use their trash cans to dump. I've only met one guy that wouldn't." She shrugged. "I told him it was fine with me if he didn't want to be a part of this 'hood'!" |
| Buddy, you had better watch out… She's looking for you! |
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The Trash Lady Of Seminole Heights |
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All Photos © Jack D. Singer 2005/2006 This page last updated 07/07/06© by Jack D. Singer Disclaimer: This site is for information purposes only.
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