Jails' Trash is Charity's Gain With Can Recycling

Recycling cans can be a "dirty, messy job," but somebody stepped up to do it, and doing it well added up to big bucks for the Ronald McDonald House of Tampa Bay, thanks to the efforts of Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office employees at the Orient Road and Falkenburg Road jails.

For their efforts helping to operate a can-recycling program at the jails in the Greater Brandon area of Tampa, Lt. Waltraud Addison and Deputy Gordon McIntyre received community service recognition.

The employees received their awards June 13 at the Jail Assembly Room, 502 North Falkenburg Road, as part of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office's 2012 Second-Quarter Awards Ceremony.

Calling them "dedicated advocates of the program," Col. James Previtera noted in his presenting remarks that this "dirty, messy job" paid off to the tune of more than $7,600 for the Ronald McDonald House of Tampa Bay.

"Deputy McIntyre often uses his own time and vehicle to transport the cans to the recycler," Previtera said. "Lietuenant Addison and Deputy McIntyre epitomize the motto, ' To protect and serve.' "

Previtera noted that the can-recycling programs at the jails have been in operation over the past five years.

McIntyre was recognized as well for his volunteer work with Meals on Wheels and at A Kid's Place, a residential facility for neglected and abused children.