This week’s Hometown Hero, presented by Hendrick Southpoint, is Chapel Hill resident Linda Sanders.

“My husband, Brian, and I have lived here for 23 years and I just happened to have a passion when it comes to litter,” Sanders said.

Sanders has been devoted to clean up efforts throughout her life and as a member of the East Chapel Hill Rotary Club, she’s already done a lot of work related to sustainability in our community.

But when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, she also started to notice a spike in litter being dumped. That’s when she decided to kick her efforts into high gear.

“My husband and I decided we’d get out and we’d start picking up trash. And this morning, in fact, we filled our 82nd 13-gallon bag.”

Sanders said they collect everything from batteries to cigarette packets to plastic bottles. Additionally, lots of face masks have also been discarded.

“I think it was the number of face masks was that was really the tipping point for me when I said to my husband, Brian, well, I think we need to just go out and start picking up.”

Linda said she’s now working with the Town of Chapel Hill to identify other efforts for cleanup in the future. She said that simple act of picking up litter is an easy thing that anyone can do to make our community a better place.

“I think just as an individual citizen, you know, get yourself a gripping grabber get started in your own neighborhood and your own community. We have many people working from home. Maybe there’s a great opportunity for parents to get out with their kids at lunchtime or after school and say let’s make this a project or some kind of an initiative.

“I think people realize the importance of doing this. So if we can just heighten awareness, educate, you know, it’s a great opportunity to bring the community together.”

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees. You can support local journalism and our mission to serve the community. Contribute today – every single dollar matters.

Listen to this week’s Hometown Hero segment:

Related Stories
‹
Hometown Hero: Meg McGurk from the Town of Chapel Hill
This week’s Hometown Hero, presented by Hendrick Southpoint, is Meg McGurk from the Town of Chapel Hill. McGurk has served as the town’s community safety planner since 2018 and has been essential in Chapel Hill’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, she’s served as planning section chief and manager of emergency operations. “Meg has […]
Hometown Hero: Kelly Drayton from the Town of Chapel Hill
This week’s Hometown Hero, presented by Hendrick Southpoint, is Kelly Drayton — the emergency management coordinator for the Town of Chapel Hill. During the pandemic, Drayton also took over as the manager for the emergency operation center within the town. “She has led the charge for the emergency operation center that began with opening up […]
Hometown Hero: Women of Chapel Hill's Documentary 'I Was Still Singing'
This week’s Hometown Heroes, presented by Hendrick Southpoint, are the 28 women recently featured in Chapel Hill’s digital history project, “I Was Still Singing,” highlighting the role that women played in the civil rights movement here in Chapel Hill. “Women have played such a tremendous part,” said Danita Mason Hogans, the creative director for the […]
Hometown Hero: Eugenia Floyd from Mary Scroggs Elementary
This week’s Hometown Hero, presented by Hendrick Southpoint, is Eugenia Floyd — a fourth-grade teacher at Mary Scroggs Elementary in Chapel Hill who was recently named the 2021 Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Teacher of the Year. Floyd, a graduate of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School System at East Chapel Hill High School, said in a release […]
Hometown Hero: Adam Stenross-Russell
This week’s Hometown Hero, presented by Hendrick Southpoint, is Adam Stenross-Russell — who single-handedly created a neighborhood recycling project, that’s rescued nine tons of scrap metal from the landfill and still counting. “He’s just taken on this personal crusade to reuse materials, to save them from going from the landfill, to he repairs things,” said […]
Hometown Hero: Chapel Hill Fire Chief Vencelin Harris
This week’s Hometown Hero, presented by Hendrick Southpoint, Vencelin Harris — the Fire Chief for the Town of Chapel Hill. This week marks one year on the job in Harris’ new position, but he is no stranger to emergency services. He was previously Chapel Hill’s emergency management coordinator but he took over a new position […]
Hometown Hero: Gracie Kirchgessner
This week’s Hometown Hero, presented by Hendrick Southpoint, is Gracie Kirchgessner. Charlotte White — Kirchgessner’s daughter and the co-founder of the SKJAJA Fund — said she’s been a pivotal volunteer since day one. “No matter what I mean, she’s like, ‘Yes, I’m there,'” White said. “She’ll collect things for fundraisers. She loves working with the […]
Hometown Hero: Cole Malinchock from Bike Loud
This week’s Hometown Hero, presented by Hendrick Southpoint, is Cole Malinchock from Chapel Hill High School. Malinchock has volunteered for PORCH, done service projects with the Boy Scouts, but this summer he undertook a massive project: biking across the country for charity. He was inspired by his brother, Wes, who did it in a previous […]
Hometown Heroes: Lynne Privette and Tiz Giordano
This week’s Hometown Heroes, presented by Hendrick Southpoint, are Lynne Privette and Tiz Giordano. They’re members of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Mother’s Club on Facebook. Earlier this year, the club turned its attention to finding ways to help UNC students who were having to stay in town after campus go shut down due to the COVID-19 […]
Hometown Hero: Stan Norwood from Chapel Hill Transit
This week’s Hometown Hero, presented by Hendrick Southpoint, is Chapel Hill Transit operator Stan Norwood, who is retiring after 32 years of service. What principle did Norwood live by during his years as a bus operator? “All people are different, therefore you have to take each individual as they are,” he said. “You greet each […]
›