Matthew’s Alternative Spring Break

Less than six months after cleaning up the Ohio River with In Good Company in Ripley, Ohio, Matthew (States Logistics) returned for another tour of duty with Living Lands & Waters, this time in Memphis!

For a week in October of 2018, mighty Matthew from States Logistics Services, Inc. donned waders, sloshed through mud, and excavated half-submerged truck tires from the banks of the Ohio River. Along with his fellow In Good Company volunteers, he worked with Living Lands and Waters to retrieve over 56,000 pounds of debris from this vital waterway. 

“The amount of trash is overwhelming,” Matt said. “But hearing the extraction numbers each day and seeing the giant piles make you feel so good inside. To me, this is doing something important—and I can see the difference it makes.” 

During the project, Matt was surprised and inspired by the group’s collective impact, and committed to doing more. Upon his return to California, he started collecting his recyclables. Sixteen bags and ninety pounds of aluminum and plastic later, he was $146 closer to his next adventure: taking an Alternative Spring Break trip with Living Lands & Waters! This time, in March of 2019, he joined a group of 70 students from five colleges to pull out another 52,605 pounds of trash from the Mississippi River near Memphis. Amazing!

Welcome home, Matt! And big thanks to you, the student volunteers and the LLW crew!