Contract Crew Keeps Florida Clean

By Paul McAuliffe, Contract Administrator 

If you travel the state highways of Bay or Calhoun counties, you’ll see them.

First you’ll spot the white King Cab pickup with the Goodwill logo and flashing yellow light, flatbed trailer in tow. Then you’ll spot the “Mule” off-road vehicles with their own flashing lights, moving rapidly back and forth on the roadside shoulders. There’ll be two workers in bright safety vests for each Mule, trash pickers in hand, leaning out of the Mules and making short work of roadside debris. Or, you’ll see them beside the King Cab muscling heavier items into the truck.

These are the hard-working members of Goodwill-Big Bend’s contract crew, doing their best to keep Florida beautiful.

Starting this past January, Goodwill-Big Bend, in partnership with Respect of Florida, began a one-year contract with the Florida Department of Transportation (DOT). Their mission is to pick up litter on selected state highways and to mow the grass around DOT holding ponds. DOT likes the contract crew’s work so much that they’ve already approved the contract for 2011 – and gave them a second contract, adding more highways to the list. This additional contract will allow Goodwill to hire many more workers and at least one additional supervisor.

Stan Womble, Goodwill – Big Bend’s Director of Contract Services, set up the program and successfully negotiated the deal with DOT. He hand-picked his two crew supervisors, Jason Ferguson and Kasey Wilson. Jason is in charge of the mowing and Kasey directs the roadside litter crew.

Jason and Kasey’s workers are individuals with disabilities who have proven themselves able to do the physical labor required. It’s hard, hot and sweaty work. The litter crew has to hustle to keep ahead of the DOT mowers. They use plenty of mosquito repellant, and keep a sharp eye out for poison ivy, snakes, and that most dangerous critter of all: Text-Messaging Drivers. The workers have to be constantly aware of fast-moving highway traffic as they roam the roadsides and center medians. “Safety first” is their motto.

The contract employees take great pride in what they do. The mission of Goodwill-Big Bend is to provide employment to people with disabilities and other barriers to employment, helping them to reach their fullest potential in supporting themselves and their families. The contract program is a part of the ongoing fulfillment of that mission.