Everyday People: Cleaning up the streets in Seaside, one block at a time
SEASIDE — Alice Lane has been around a block or two — cleaning them, that is.
She can often be found walking around the city with gloves and a plastic bag, picking up trash and litter along sidewalks and roads.
Alice Lane
Alice Lane’s volunteer work includes Meals on Wheels and the Adopt One Block program.
The former West Coast Airlines flight attendant cites her experience keeping the aisles clean for her habit of picking up what other people carelessly leave behind.
“The airplane is your home, treat it as such. You don’t let it get trashy, you make people feel at home and comfortable. And we didn’t ever walk down the aisle without having a look to make sure it was clean,” she said. “And that’s why to this day I pick up stuff I shouldn’t, so I have to carry gloves.”
Lane is also familiar with handing out meals, which is something she continues to do for the Meals on Wheels program at the Bob Chisholm Community Center.
Her impact on Meals on Wheels was noted by Chris Duffy, the program’s nutrition coordinator. “Alice has been a central figure in our program for the last seven years. She is one of the most consistent, hardworking, dedicated volunteers I’ve known here. That’s the truth,” he said.
“What I’ve seen here with her is, I mean, I only hear of her many stories in the airline industry. And there have been times I’ve just kind of stood back and appreciated it — like we’re on an airplane here — and she treats this as an airplane and she’ll get everyone served up there,” Duffy said. “It’s actually really special. We’ll have a crew of three or four people. Sometimes though, if someone calls out, I’ve seen Alice do this entire lunch.”
Lane previously volunteered at the Spay and Neuter Thrift Shop. When she is not picking up litter or volunteering, she acts as the North Coast’s USA Pickleball ambassador.
Lane began her volunteer work after the death of her husband. She said she would notice litter scattered across her path as she walked to her assignments.
“I walked to everything I was volunteering for before I got pickleball going. I started volunteering so I could get out and meet the public and give back,” Lane said.
She encourages others in the community to help keep the streets, sidewalks and beaches clean. Recently, she became a volunteer for the Adopt One Block program, which delivers free cleanup supplies.
“There’s trash that blows around and sometimes you can tell they just give it a toss. It’d be nice if people were just responsible for whatever they’re carrying. You know, don’t let the gum wrappers go and don’t let the candy bar wrappers go,” Lane said. “Put them in your pocket.”