'Craig Faunce Day': Salisbury Proclaims March 3 After a Man Who Now Marks 100 Days of Cleaning Up the City

MARYLAND--A man in Salisbury officially marks 100 days of picking up trash across the city and now, has his own day to commemorate his impact on the community. 

, back in November, when he had recently moved from Rockville to Salisbury, Maryland, after he contracted COVID-19 and lost his job. Once he began his daily walks outside, he realized he needed to do something about all the trash he saw lying around--and he's been doing so, officially, for 100 days now. On behalf of the city of Salisbury, March 3 has officially been proclaimed 'Craig Faunce Day.'  "It was a total surprise, it totally got me, I had no idea what was going on," Faunce said.    Salisbury Acting Mayor and City Administrator Julia Glanz said she first heard of him through social media sometime around last fall, but finally met him in person last week, when she surprised him with the document. She said proclamations come out of the Mayor's Office periodically, and they're given to organizations or individuals that have done outstanding work in the community.

 "This was a no-brainer that, that Craig deserved his own day, deserved his own month, deserves his own year, you know," she said. "He's setting an incredible example for our community." Still, Faunce said it was unexpected. He will forever cherish this gesture, even if not many people are aware of his day. "I've never had a day for an entire city, so I, I doubt the city will know but I know and my friends know," he said. Faunce has managed to have two trending hashtags on social media--#CleanUpWithCraig and #FaunceStrong--and has had up to 15 consistent volunteers meet up with him every day around the city. "Ittakesalotofdedicationtogetupandbelike, 'okay,I'mjustgonnapickuptrashtodayinthefreezingcold'," said recurring volunteer and college student, Mabel Carter. "I'mreallygladthatthey'rerecognizingwhathe'sdonehere...Ihopethatitinspiresalotofotherpeopletodothesamething." Faunce's daughter Madeline, also took the initiative to create 

 in honor of his parents who were affected by COVID, spreading a message of hope and compassion. "Not knowing anyone when I first moved here was very weird, 'cause I know so many people back in Rockville, but now, I mean, I really have a group of...I mean they're my friends, it's like; they're fantastic," he said. "I can't wait 'til COVID's over so we can finally do something besides pick up trash." Sometimes all we need is a little change of scenery and a random act of kindness to inspire us to make a change.