trash pick up

The roads here can get very trashy. People just don't respect the land here, and it's sad. We love it here and want it to look better, so we have started picking up trash along the road. Also, since we live in Hawaii, you get paid for your recyclables if you bring them to a place. That was extra incentive for the kids to participate.  So we invited some friends (our neighbors were the only ones interested in picking up trash on a Saturday morning with us, and they were happy to do it. For sure they are some of our favorites.) and we all grabbed bags and headed out. We parked our cars and picked up trash until each child and adult had FULL bags. 

I ran for the car and we all loaded up in it to drive our friends back to their car where we had started (we walked a LONG way down the road).  Pam and Jeff had to hold the trash bags hanging out the back while we drove back to their car. 

We turned in all the glass, plastic bottles, and aluminum cans at the recycle center, and the kids made $4 from just that day. It was very exciting. Since then we've added to our recyclable earnings jar, and almost have enough to go to Menchie's for frozen yogurt. Yes please! Hard work does pay off! 

Also, each time we go, lots of cars honk and cheer us on. And the last time we went (yesterday), a security guard for our community saw the kids and paid them $2 to say thanks for helping keep this community clean. So sweet! It helps keep the kids moving when we've walked a long way and we are all sweating in the sun.