Walpole man with autism collects cans and bottles to donate to charity

WALPOLE, Mass. — Since the coronavirus pandemic temporarily shut down his job, a young Walpole man who lives with autism found a new hobby collecting cans and bottles and donating the funds from returns to local charities.

Tyler Forgeron, 26, has donated $1,100 over the last two weeks and has $500 more to give this week.

“This makes me happy, because, when the job I work at, Showcase [Cinema], closed down because of the coronavirus, I wanted to turn a negative situation into a positive situation,” said Forgeron, an usher at the Foxborough movie theater. “I love it. It’s been getting me out of the house more, and it’s been enabling me to help out others.”

Forgeron's mother, Tracy DeRoma, has spread the word on Facebook, asking neighbors to donate their recyclable cans and bottles to her son's effort. Forgeron will pick them up at donors' homes, or they can drop them off at his home.

"It just took off," DeRoma said of the response from the Facebook community. "With the positive comments that we got, he was just so happy doing that, he wanted to continue doing it further."

The outpouring of support and positive response have boosted her son's self-esteem, DeRoma said.

DeRoma helps her son sort and count the recyclables, bag and label them and then redeem them. At times, their front lawn is nearly covered with bags of cans and bottles from both generous friends and complete strangers.

"It's about five to six hours a day of counting and gathering and separating and putting them together. We're lucky to have two people to help us with pick-up," DeRoma said. "They have been unbelievable."

One man who told DeRoma he was furloughed and is looking to stay busy picks up cans and bottles from Dedham to Wrentham and drops them off at their home. He refused to take gas money or a gift card for his help. So the mom-and-son pair decided to donate $100 this week to a non-profit important to him, the American Diabetes Association.

Forgeron donates $50 each week to Family Autism Center - Arc of South Norfolk, where he receives services.

Other local charities and organizations they have donated to include Walpole hungry families program Breaking Bread, Medfield animal shelter Forever Home Rescue, ALS organization 4 You I Will Fight and connective-tissue syndrome foundation Ehlers-Danlos Society.

Forgeron is also supporting local businesses that have been struggling due to the pandemic.

While collecting recyclables is a new hobby for Forgeron, he plans to continue doing it to give back to the community that has always embraced him.

"It makes me very proud, and I love supporting everyone who has been there for me," Forgeron said. "I plan on keeping doing this forever."

Forgeron and DeRoma encourage anyone looking to donate cans and bottles to reach out to them on Facebook.

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