Neighborhood Cleanup
06/03/2008
What better to do on a Friday afternoon after a long work week than get out of the office for an hour with your co-workers and enjoy the spring sun - while picking up the trash that litters the local streets? That's what we thought, and what we did last Friday an hour before closing time.
We could tell there was some spring fever going around, because everyone was lined up at the door, plastic bags and gloves in hand, before we even had to drag them away from their desks - which is usually a painful process even when there is fun to be had.
Partners chosen, we split up and hit the streets, eyes peeled for cigarette butts, candy wrappers, abandoned socks, crumpled up paper, and... well, more cigarette butts. All in all, Northampton seemed to have fairly well kempt sidewalks, but that didn't stop each of us from coming back with at least some heft to our bags.
It was heartening to bump into people along the way who had nothing but nice things to say about our efforts. The copious amount of cigarette butts we took back with us was somewhat disturbing. But I think we all returned to the office with some well-earned satisfaction for a job well done, and the event was not without its humor:
