January 9, 2008
By RAELYNN RICARTE
News staff writer

Susan Hess has found that walking every day yields more than health benefits — it has also provided her with enough cash to make a charitable contribution.

On Monday, Hess turned $104.08 in change and bills found along sidewalks over to Hood River City Manager Bob Francis. She wants the money that was collected over a three-year period to be used to purchase two outdoor ashtrays that will be placed next to downtown pubs.

Although Hess has mostly come across pennies during her travels, she has also come across a $20 bill and a Susan B. Anthony dollar. She even came across a $400 rent check that someone had dropped and a $200 paycheck — both of which were turned over to the issuers.

“It’s been fun; it kinds of gets to be a game after a while,” she said.

“I thought when I started picking up the money that it would be interesting to see what I could do with it.”

Francis said the donation of the cease-fire receptacles for cigarette butts will help correct one of the leading littering problems along city streets. He said it has been a tradition in America for smokers to discard butts on the ground — but having multiple butts strewn on and around sidewalks creates an eyesore.

“It’s one of the smallest things that you can do to litter but the butts really add up and it really looks bad when there are dozens laying around on the sidewalks,” said Francis.

Hess plans to keep collecting change as she comes across it with the hope of donating some other item to a cause for the public good.