‘A Project for Humanity ‘ cleans up trash around C.O.
A Bend man has gone from cleaning up his act to cleaning up Central Oregon.
Chris LaCoss is one of the people behind the nonprofit A Project for Humanity. LaCoss said that in two years, he and a small team have removed about 10 1/2 tons of garbage from the Central Oregon landscape.
The group teamed up with a Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office inmate work crew Thursday cleaning up an abandoned homeless camp off Robal Road on Bend’s north end.
Not too long ago, LaCoss said, he used to live in a field just like the ones he now cleans. At 14, he became a meth addict and was in and out of trouble, eventually finding himself in prison. He’s now clean and wants to help others in need.
“We’re all human. We’re all a member of the Central Oregon community, and for any of us to turn a blind eye to any other person in their struggle is not being a community,” he said.
LaCoss said his goal is to help people on both sides of the issue. The group picks up garbage on land for property owners, helping them avoid fines and cleanup costs. And he helps those living on the land better their situations through outreach, and by connecting them with resources.
The Bend native said he wants the area to return to the condition it was when he grew up, and he has big goals.
“Within the next few years, I want to take back China Hat (Road),” LaCoss said. “I want to demolish all the trash that’s out there, and get it where it needs to be, and not landfill. I want to take back all of our walking trails, all of our public lands, all of our private lands.
“I want Central Oregon to be the Central Oregon it was when I grew up as a little boy, being able to run out and play out in these areas with my friends as a kid and be safe and not have to come across 300 syringes,” he said.
His long term goal for A Project for Humanity is creating a day center that provides various resources, as well as a safe place to just be. He said he understands business owners’ frustrations when people loiter, and said if he can offer people a place to go, he knows they would utilize it.
More information about the nonprofit can be found at the link below.
Https://www.Aprojectforhumanity.Org/
Who do you think should pay to remove garbage left on Central Oregon’s public lands? That’s the topic of our KTVZ.COM Poll, which you can find halfway down the right side of our home page.
