In Appleton, Wisconsin, community members have been trying to find out for several days who’s the mysterious “garbage man” who’s been “teleporting” their garbage cans back to their garages after trash day.
According to the neighbors, every week, after they’re lugging the bins out to the street one day before trash day and the empty cans then reappear outside of their garages the following morning.
One of the most curious neighbors, Melody Luttenegger, decided to get to the bottom of this “mystery” and find out who’s been caring for their trashcans. After a while, she got the answer.
Mysterious “Garbage Man” Has Been Keeping The Neighborhood Clean & Neat
Luttenegger explains that it was all odd because suddenly, all of their garbage bins showed up. They have a long driveway and she initially thought it was the garbage company.
She also asked her husband if he was the one putting the bins back, but he said it wasn’t him. This is when she and her 9-month-old son Mason got out and decided to find out who was doing this random act of kindness.
She found out the day before Christmas Eve last year. Together with her son they stood there and waited. At 8:20 am, an older man showed up on the long and icy driveway, pulling the bin behind him.
This was one of the neighbors who lived several streets down. Since he had some more free time in his retirement, the 75-year-old Dick Pontzloff decided to bring out the cans as a way to remain active.
He was sick and tired of doing nothing in his retirement so he started going around, putting the bins back in place. He didn’t do it only with certain ones, but with all of the cans.
A Random Act of Kindness Causing Gratitude
The retiree does this kindness every week and rides his bike, from house to house, even when it’s very cold and most people would rather stay in their beds.
The kind retiree has accustomed to the weather and says he’s a winter lover anyway. He hasn’t been doing this for any recognition and the neighbors needed some time before they finally discovered who was doing it.
The quiet and kind man used the spotlight to inspire others and said how it’s important to be nice to people and that this is what we need to do.
However, Luttenegger says his generosity hasn’t remained unknown. She added that the kindness of strangers is a unique feeling and although someone might find bringing in garbage cans to be a thankless task, for his neighbors, this simple gesture meant the world.
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