Newcomer family in Moncton does weekly cleanups to show gratitude

Cheng En. Du said he wasn’t very confident when his mother came up with the idea of doing weekly garbage cleanups.

Du, who is 14, and his parents moved from China to Moncton last year.

As the family navigated through the process of settling in a new country, many Canadians offered their help, said mother Geng Chen.

In return, the family began cleaning up the neighbourhood each week as a way to give back.

"Our language was not good, we were unfamiliar with the place, and we faced a lot of life pressure," Chen said in an email. "But in the most difficult times, we received a lot of help.

Chen is more comfortable communicating through text as she continues to learn English, she said.

"As life gradually stabilized, we developed the idea of giving back to the community ... if we can consistently clean up the streets around us every week, it will not only improve the environment, but also be a return to Canada," Chen wrote.

Du said he felt a bit embarrassed the first time he and his mother went out to pick up garbage. He said some people questioned what he was doing.

He said his mother encouraged him and advised him not to listen to what other people had to say.

The mother-son duo have completed eight community cleanups. They bring home the trash, sort it, and put the bags out with their own garbage. 

They post weekly updates on a Facebook page called Green Guardians Moncton, and plan to continue cleaning their downtown neigbourhood whenever weather permits, said Chen.

She said this has also helped them form a connection with their neighbour, who has joined their Facebook group.

"Every time we go out he takes the initiative to greet us and give us a thumbs up to encourage us.

"This surprised and moved us ... what we do is really seen by someone," she wrote.