Volunteer, 80, keeps Delaware parish looking spiffy

Published: 2008-01-03

WILMINGTON, Del. (CNS) -- Isidro "Pedro" Colon retired from the city of Wilmington five years ago after years of cleaning the streets of trash and snow. No one would have blamed him had he kicked back, put his battle-tested feet up and relaxed during retirement. No one, perhaps, except Colon himself. Colon wanted no part of lazy mornings and daytime television. He had time and talents to offer. So he approached officials at his longtime parish, St. Paul's in Wilmington. They were more than happy to welcome him aboard. "One day he asked if he could work here as a volunteer. I said anyone is welcome here," said Deacon Angel Rivera, who does maintenance at St. Paul's. Colon, 80, can be found virtually every morning on the grounds of St. Paul's or a nearby street, doing his part to make his little corner of the world a bit more pleasant. He works year-round, picking up trash, weeding and shoveling snow. He comes in early, sometimes before 7 a.m., works three or four hours, walks to his home half a block from the church, and returns in the afternoon to continue his work.

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