South Portland man gains online fame for ‘plogging’ and good deed
While jogging the streets of South Portland, Ben Michaud isn’t just getting in his daily miles; he’s picking up trash along the way, a practice known as “plogging.”What started as a personal initiative to beautify his community and make some extra money returning bottles and cans, has turned Michaud into something of a local celebrity. His plogging videos on Instagram and TikTok have gained traction near and far.”Every time I go for a run now, I either get a couple honks or somebody recognizes me,” Michaud said. “It’s an incredible feeling.”Last month, Michaud’s routine took an unexpected turn. Near the end of a run, he spotted a wallet on the ground in the parking lot of the old Mahoney Middle School.”There was a lot of money in there,” he recalled. “I immediately looked for an ID, found it, and then looked up — and there’s a cop sitting right there. It was pretty incredible.”Having lost his own wallet in the past, Michaud didn’t hesitate to do the right thing.”I know how awful it can be to get a new license, cancel cards, and lose whatever money was inside,” he said. “I just wanted to save someone from that stress.”The wallet, it turns out, belonged to a single mother. After she recovered it, she posted a thank-you message online.”I didn’t know if it would ever get back to me,” Michaud said. “But I saw her post and was like, yep, that’s my video. This is awesome.”Since then, the video documenting the story has received hundreds of thousands of views, a shout-out from the South Portland Police Department, and praise from the local community.Michaud said he plans on continuing his mission and was pleased to share he’s made over $250 from returning bottles and cans since January. Michaud invested that money into the stock market and says he’s doubled his money.”I’m going to run anyway,” he said. “So I might as well make it a little harder and pick up trash while I do it.”
While jogging the streets of South Portland, Ben Michaud isn’t just getting in his daily miles; he’s picking up trash along the way, a practice known as “plogging.”
What started as a personal initiative to beautify his community and make some extra money returning bottles and cans, has turned Michaud into something of a local celebrity. His plogging videos on Instagram and TikTok have gained traction near and far.
“Every time I go for a run now, I either get a couple honks or somebody recognizes me,” Michaud said. “It’s an incredible feeling.”
Last month, Michaud’s routine took an unexpected turn. Near the end of a run, he spotted a wallet on the ground in the parking lot of the old Mahoney Middle School.
“There was a lot of money in there,” he recalled. “I immediately looked for an ID, found it, and then looked up — and there’s a cop sitting right there. It was pretty incredible.”
Having lost his own wallet in the past, Michaud didn’t hesitate to do the right thing.
“I know how awful it can be to get a new license, cancel cards, and lose whatever money was inside,” he said. “I just wanted to save someone from that stress.”
The wallet, it turns out, belonged to a single mother. After she recovered it, she posted a thank-you message online.
“I didn’t know if it would ever get back to me,” Michaud said. “But I saw her post and was like, yep, that’s my video. This is awesome.”
Since then, the video documenting the story has received hundreds of thousands of views, a shout-out from the South Portland Police Department, and praise from the local community.
Michaud said he plans on continuing his mission and was pleased to share he’s made over $250 from returning bottles and cans since January. Michaud invested that money into the stock market and says he’s doubled his money.
“I’m going to run anyway,” he said. “So I might as well make it a little harder and pick up trash while I do it.”