In the frosty winter of Wisconsin, residents in Appleton found themselves caught in a perplexing mystery. Every garbage day, they would trudge through the snow and ice, dragging their trash bins to the curb, only to discover in the evenings that the bins had mysteriously returned to their garages.
Melody Luttenegger, a resident of the Grand Chute neighborhood, initially suspected her husband of bringing the garbage cans back. However, he denied any involvement. Determined to uncover the identity of the generous soul behind this act of kindness, Melody decided to keep a watchful eye on the area.
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On the day before Christmas Eve, she patiently stood outside, holding a little gift for the anonymous do-gooder. At 8:21 in the morning, her persistence paid off when she spotted 75-year-old Dick Pontzloff, a senior who lived a few streets away, returning her garbage cans.
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This heartwarming story caught the attention of WFRV Local 5, who regularly features uplifting tales in their segment called ‘Positively Wisconsin’. Dick, it turned out, had an inspiring story to share.
“After retiring, I couldn’t stand sitting around doing nothing, so I started picking up garbage cans. Not just specific ones, but everyone’s,” Dick revealed to Local 5 News, based in nearby Green Bay.
Having spent most of his life in Wisconsin, Dick always cherished the winter season. He explained that the mask he wore during his garbage rounds was primarily for keeping his face warm, although he admitted it was a departure from his usual attire.
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“Being kind to everyone is essential,” Dick emphasized. “It’s simply what we should do. Imagine if you were at home and needed someone’s help.”
For Luttenegger, the act of kindness she experienced went beyond practical assistance. She described the indescribable feeling that strangers’ kindness evokes, an intangible gift that warms the heart.