DE PERE, Wis.— Luke Titus spends his lunch break a bit differently than everyone else.

The De Pere man spends that time walking about town picking up garbage and grabbing the attention of almost everyone walking or driving by.

“Yeah, they’re curious about what I’m doing,” he says. “It’s a great way to start a conversation but it always ends up with people… they just love that somebody’s out there picking up the litter.”

And the simple good deed is more Wisconsin-like than many realize. Earth Day is April 22, and its founder was actually born right here in the Badger State. 

But why does he command so much attention performing the seemingly mundane task of picking up garbage? Because he does it barefoot, all through the winter and now the spring.

“I go barefoot just in solidarity with the animals themselves,” Titus says. “They got to live in this; they don’t have a choice so I might as well join them.”

Titus isn’t just picking up garbage, he’s started a Barefoot Buckets Challenge. He’s donating one dollar for every bucket he fills with trash or recycling.

“Some places I’m more garbage, other places I’m more recycling,” says Titus.

He’s filled up 150 buckets from the time of this story. He’s also raising money online. So far, people have donated $13 hundred dollars to his cause.

That money will go to the Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Titus says more than anything, he’s trying to get people to believe they can play a role in keeping their environment clean and vibrant.

“I’m never going to pick up everything, but it’s something I enjoy doing,” says Titus. “I enjoy the results that come of it, and there’s always going to be more work.”