By Kelli Samson
If you find yourself regularly driving around west Olympia between 6:00 – 9:00 a.m., any day but Sunday, then you’ve probably seen Dick and Nancy Wiss in their orange vests. The retired couple has been walking a two-mile loop six mornings a week since their retirement in 2006, picking up trash along the way.
Married since 1964, the Wisses retired within six days of one another, he from Weyerhaeuser and she from Educational Service District 113. In order to keep Dick’s diabetes in check, getting regular exercise was a part of their retirement plan. They began what became their regular route: Capital Mall Drive to Yauger Way, east on Harrison Avenue, right at Safeway onto Cooper Point Road, all around Yauger Park, and back down Capital Mall Drive.
“During that very first week,” recalls Nancy, “one of us picked up a plastic sack. We figured we might as well put some stuff in it, so that’s how it started. Before we knew it, we had two plastic bags, and then we started carrying the buckets. A very nice fellow gave us our first trash grabber. Then his friend gave us another one to keep us from bending over. I can’t tell you how many of those things we’ve gone through. The rubber tips wear out.”
Nowadays, they even have special containers from the City of Olympia for storing the used needles they find along their walks. The Bloodmobile gave them their first sharps container in which to dispose of them at home. The sharps container is taken to the Thurston County Needle Exchange when it’s full.
“We were told once not to pick up the needles because it’s dangerous, but we decided we’re old and it’s better that we get stuck by one than some kid at the Skate Court,” says Nancy.
The Wisses never planned to become such an integral part of our city, but they point to their upbringings as training. “When we were children, if we had the rare treat in the car, if we even thought about throwing something out of the car window, we were in trouble,” explains Nancy.
They have two children, six grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. It was their daughter who gave them their bright orange vests, complete with their names, one year for a Christmas gift. Dick had recently been hit by a car one icy morning while collecting trash. Their daughter made them swear an oath that they would wear the vests faithfully. Another unfortunate encounter with a vehicle followed, but not for a lack of visibility.
On any given day, Dick and Nancy fill their buckets with cigarette butts, clothing, wrappers, and bottles, each emptying their bucket up to six times. Monday mornings yield a lot more trash than any other day, as they take Sundays and some Saturdays off. Several businesses along their route have given them permission to dispose of the trash in their dumpsters. Some days yield interesting finds, like piles of blankets or bags of food left by the homeless. The most memorable piece of trash they’ve found? A portable toilet.
For many commuters, waving to Dick and Nancy is just a part of their routine. For Dick and Nancy, saying hello to those in the homeless community has become a part of theirs. They know many individuals by sight and some by name. When they haven’t seen someone for a few days, they begin to worry. “There’s one right now on our radar whom we haven’t seen in three months, and we’re concerned,” shares Nancy.
Just how long do the Wisses plan to keep up their efforts? For as long as it’s possible. And by “possible,” I don’t mean “easy.” Dick’s broken shoulder a few years ago didn’t slow him down. And when Nancy had a hip fracture and wasn’t able to walk, Dick secured her a motorized scooter so she could still get out there with him. “She put the bucket between her feet,” says Dick. They are hard-core and dedicated. Nothing stops them.
And people notice. “We’ve gotten some gift cards from people, a lot of Starbucks cards,” says Dick. “No matter where we go, people stop us and say, ‘Are you the ones who pick up the trash?’ We call each other ‘Garbage Picker-Upper.’” The Kiwanis has even bestowed them with their “Everyday Hero” awards.
“We love being outside and noticing every little change in seasons. It’s amazing,” adds Nancy.
At Christmastime, Dick lets his beard grow longer and picks up trash while wearing a Santa hat. “Several years ago, a man stopped us to tell us that his son had seen us picking up garbage. He said, ‘Daddy, Santa Claus is picking up garbage. I want one of those for Christmas,’ and so he gave his son one of the trash grabbers. His son began regularly picking up trash in his neighborhood, so that was cool to inspire someone,” shares Nancy.
Next time you see them in their orange vests, give Dick and Nancy a wave. A truly better way to respect them and the wonderful job they do for all of us, however, is to do your own part where you live.
Dick says it best, “If each person just picked up his part of a block regularly, we wouldn’t have this kind of litter everywhere.”
