DANIEL TYLER GOODEN / L’Observateur / December 16, 2000

GRAMERCY – Can you imagine how big a pile of one million aluminum cans wouldbe? Could you imagine collecting, crushing and recycling them? Lewis McClungdid all that and donated the money to the Special Olympics and other charityorganizations. Though the weight of cans has lessened over the years,McClung figures he’s collected about 60 pounds a week, or 312,000 poundsof cans in the 10 years he’s been recycling them.

The cans are now taken to Westwego, where McClung sells them to SouthernScrap. The average price he’s received over the year is about 40 cents apounds. At 312,000 pounds, that would be roughly $124,800 in 10 years, allfor the Special Olympics. “I wish I knew I was going to do this so long” I wouldhave kept better count, said McClung.

It all started around the family at Christmas dinner, 1989. McClung’sgranddaughter, Denise Louque was born with Down’s Syndrome and had beeninvolved in the Special Olympics since 1983, when she was three years-old,said Lewis’s wife, Iris McClung. McClung’s brother and other friends recycledcans, so then and there McClung jumped into the business. “I don’t knowexactly why we decided that, but we talked about it and went with it,” saidMcClung.

His son was working at the Taft-Waterford plant in St. Charles, andvolunteered collecting their cans every week. McClung also got 15 white 50-gallon barrels which he placed around St. James Parish for people to drop offtheir cans.

“In the drums I’d find shrimp heads, fish guts and all sorts of stuff,” saidMcClung. He’d empty and clean the drums, sort out the trash and crush thecans. Until last year the recycling drums were a common part of the St.James Parish landscape. Now there are four out at the St James Boat Club,to encourage keeping Blind River clean. One is located at Lorriane hisdaughter’s and Denise’s house in Grand Point. Though there are less drumsabout, McClung still finds his cans, many arriving at his door step.

In front of his house, at 203 N. Millet St. in Gramercy, A large containerrests, wrapped in the banner or the 1999 Special Olympics World Games. Hishouse has become a regular recycling center. When the citizens of St. JamesParish heard that Denise wanted to go to the 1999 World Games in Raleigh,N.C., the container outside his house would fill everyday. “I don’t even knowwho all the people are,” said McClung with a smile.

Denise made it to the games and took home five medals in the Gymnasticscompetitions. The event was something special also for her mother andgrandparents. To see all those athletes, coming from 149 countries acrossthe world, was incredible. “When you see the tears, when you see the tearsbecause they accomplished something. . . we can’t stop,” said Iris, still movedby the experience. Everywhere they travel to watch Denise they see howmuch the Special Olympics means to Denise. “Everywhere she goes she nevermeets a stranger. She knows everybody and their all her friends,” said Iris.

It’s been 18 years since McClung retired from the Texaco plant in Conventbut McClung never stayed still. On goes McClung gathering and crushing cans.

His driveway is often piled high as he lines them up to be crushed with hiscar. In fact he piles them so high that one time “I said ‘Lewis there’ssomething terribly wrong with the car.’ There were six cans that had gotstuck in the fan blades,” said Iris laughing.

The hobby goes on for their granddaughter, for she is their inspiration. EverySaturday Denise still comes over for nachos, hot dogs and to play cards withher grandparents. The first doctor Denise’s mother took her to told her”never spare her any experience” because of Down’s Syndrome, said Iris.

McClung and his wife have helped make that possible with dedication and adeep love of their family.

So the cans keep rolling in, which is good, cause the 2004 Special OlympicsWorld Games are to be held in Ireland. Make sure that if you collect cans andhappen to be in St. James Parish, pay a visit to 203 N. Millet St. There’s aplace for your kind heart, charity and aluminum cans.

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