Mark Remy was so fed up with the litter problem in Portland that he planned to collect a bag full of trash and dump it on the steps of city hall as an angry protest. His wife had a better idea and suggested he channel that frustration into something more productive, leading him to discover SOLVE, a nonprofit dedicated to cleaning up litter and vandalism across Oregon and Washington. Three years ago, Remy joined his first cleanup event where volunteers are given a trash grabber, bags, and gloves before heading out to transform their neighborhoods one piece of litter at a time.
What started as a simple act of frustration has become a profound source of fulfillment for the writer and editor who now runs cleanup events as a volunteer leader. Remy reminds his volunteers that while the work of picking up trash isn’t glamorous, it offers something powerful in a world where people often feel overwhelmed and hopeless. By the time each cleanup is finished, that little corner of the world is genuinely nicer than it was before, creating a tangible sense of accomplishment that anyone can experience. His favorite message to share with participants perfectly captures the spirit of the movement: “No one can do everything, but everyone can do something.”
