Making a Difference at Any Age: Mary Grint’s Story
Mary Grint is a truly inspirational lady. Although she is in her 80s and has health conditions that often make her feel limited in how she can help make a difference in the community she has found a love of litter picking this year. She recently gave Ellie, CleanupUK’s Cleanup Champion for Tendring in North East Essex, the opportunity to ask her a few questions over a cup of tea.
Mary has enjoyed a lifetime of helping others through her local church and also through running Barnardo’s children’s homes and a local nursery school. Sadly, Mary’s mobility is now limited and she has various health conditions which restrict what she can achieve. However, Mary’s desire and determination to do good for others is still incredibly strong.
Earlier this year Mary was introduced to the ‘Local Area Guardian Litter Picking Project’ by her son Andy. The scheme launched by us
cleanupuk | Tendring Primary Recycle Scheme Community Cleanup Hub, encourages people to choose a local space they love and pledge to help keep it clean at a frequency and pace that suits their life. Mary chose to adopt a beachfront memorial garden close to her home.
She now litter picks the garden weekly with the help of her son Andy, who visits her at home and helps her into her wheelchair and together they cross the road and tackle the litter. From her wheelchair, Mary says she often spots litter under plants and benches that Andy might otherwise miss at standing height. Mary really loves visiting the garden and taking in the sea air.
At first, Mary was surprised by how much litter there was in such a small garden area. On one visit, she and Andy collected at least 15 drink cans. Mary hates leaving behind any litter she sees, and she says that clearing the gardens gives her a strong sense of achievement. She loves the seaside and these beautiful gardens and feels they should be kept clean for others to enjoy too.
Mary says that litter picking is a good way for her to make a difference in her community and she feels in her 80s, that she is limited in what she can achieve but with Andy’s help litter picking enables her to get out and change things for the better. The activity is also helping Mary physically because using the litter picker is strengthening her shoulders and wrists.
Mary’s son Andy started litter picking in recent years after seeing a local litter picker had put out a plea for help on social media. He joined a litter pick and from there he found a new passion that helps him make new friends, enjoy the outdoors and do something positive. Andy says that litter picking also helped his mental health at a time when life was difficult.
When he saw the launch of the ‘Local Area Guardian Project’ Andy recognised that it would be an opportunity to help his mum get involved too. Mary was not able to join the weekly organised group litter picks because she felt her capabilities would restrict her ability to get involved and help. However, this new project meant she could still experience the benefits of litter picking at a location and pace that worked well for her.
Mary has met many members of the public at the memorial gardens. People often stop to chat and ask what she is doing. Some have even joined in with the litter picking. Andy also shares posts on Facebook about their litter picking and this has inspired other wheelchair users and their families to get involved
Mary has been litter picking for many months now. She has also recently joined a weekly litter pick in the town centre arranged by another of our CleanupUK Clenaup Hubs . Despite the weather turning cold recently, Mary says she still looks forward to getting outside and doing what she can to help keep the town and seafront tidy.
Litter picking gives Mary a sense of pride and satisfaction because she can still help others despite her age and health challenges. She says that litter picking gives her enjoyment and has really given her a new lease of life.
Great job Mary – and thank you for all that you do!