The movement started when the church Jeff Oakes attends, Weatherford Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, encouraged members to become more involved with the community. The half-mile road in front of his house was becoming unattractive with litter, so one day Oakes and his wife, Jennifer, spent a half hour picking up trash together.
“It was the most wonderful experience. It was an amazing feeling,” Oakes recalled. “After we got finished with it I thought, ‘This is so cool, I have to clean the next road.’”
The next day he took one of his daughters and cleaned the next road. As the days went on, one road led to another until Oakes decided to do the 10 mile stretch from his neighborhood to Weatherford, down and back.
“That same feeling was there again. A wonderful, spiritual feeling,” Oakes explained. “It is invigorating to look back and see the good that you have done, and you are outdoors breathing the clean air, working your body and seeing nature up close. I just wanted others to experience that same feeling too. I wanted others to feel uplifted.”
Oakes began inviting friends, and then strangers to arm themselves with litter pickers and join in. The movement grew into Love Weatherford, a 501(c)(3) non profit organization with the immediate goal of growing their movement throughout Parker County and eventually across Texas.
Although Oakes often removes litter for 2-4 hours at a stretch to satisfy his trash-picking craving, his main responsibility is organizing groups to work 1-2 hours in their local areas cleaning roadways, making new friends, and enjoying the outdoors. The group is approaching 1,000 members.
The group was honored in March of last year by the Weatherford Chamber of Commerce. At that time, Love Weatherford removed 500 bags of trash totaling 2.5 tons of litter. Since then, the group has removed 6,500 bags of litter.
The Love Weatherford Kid’s Club and Friday seniors group makes sure every age group has a chance to enjoy litter picking, and the movement keeps growing. Love Weatherford is a “Keep Texas Beautiful” associate affiliate, and after growing across Parker County they hope to become an official “Keep Texas Beautiful” affiliate.
Oakes believes picking litter has health benefits, both physical and mental. At one point in his life, Oakes gained so much weight from high cholesterol, diabetes and other health problems, he and his wife sat down and discussed what the family would do to get by if he were to die. Today, eating healthier and staying active picking litter, Oakes is 65 pounds lighter than his heaviest weight.
Oakes said many Love Weatherford regulars view the roadsides as their own personal gym, putting in miles and absorbing fresh air as they de-litter the county.
“It is life changing,” Oakes said. “It is just you and nature and God smiling down at you. What can be healthier than that?”
Fellow picker Ron Hall said removing litter has changed his life. Five days a week Hall begins the morning picking the downtown square with Oakes before heading to other locations.
“I am disabled and I was just sitting around at home doing nothing,” Hall explained. “I saw what Love Weatherford was doing and when I did it I was hooked. I just can’t let it go.”
Oakes said he has put more than $20,000 of his family’s money into Love Weatherford with a vehicle, trailer, and ATV to cover rough terrain. Also, Love Weatherford members Ed and Sasha Yeager donated a used truck which will go into service after modifications. However, the non-profit relies greatly on donations for upkeep, bags, and pickers.
Love Weatherford activity updates can be found on social media and you can call or text Jeff Oakes at 605-906-4322 or email jeff@loveweatherford.org to volunteer, donate, or request a particular area in Parker County that needs to be cleaned.
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