Lugging the carbage can out to the curb and back every week may seem like a small task, but it can be quite daunting. When winter arrives and the temperatures drop, the task of hauling around garbage cans can seem even worse.
For residents in one neighborhood near Appleton, Wisconsin, their weekly garbage duties were being cut in half thanks to the efforts of a mystery garbage man.
For weeks, people in the neighborhood would drag their cans to the curb before bed for garbage day, and the next morning, they would be back at the garage or near the home! Someone was returning the garbage cans to their homes after the garbage man came, but no one was sure who was doing it or why.
After weeks of the mystery, Melody Luttenegger was determined to get to the bottom of it. In -2F degree weather and with her 9-month-old son in tow, Melody sat outside their home and waited. After quite some time of waiting in the cold, Melody saw what she’d been waiting for – an elderly man was slowly walking up her icy driveway dragging her garbage cans.
The man was later identified as 75-year-old Dick Pontzloff. According to a local news station, Pontzloff wanted to find a way to stay productive during retirement, and get some exercise at the same time.
With time on his hands, he biked from house to house each week along a 2-mile stretch and dragged the trash cans up for his neighbors. It keeps him fit and busy, and it made his neighbors’ days!
He told the news station that he doesn’t just pick up certain people’s trash cans, but he picks up everyone’s cans who live in the neighborhood. He also goes out and does the same thing on recycling day!
He said that it’s important to give back and think about people who may not be able to leave their homes or do much for themselves. What an inspiring man!
Watch the news clip below: