The background: Longtime podcast listeners may remember episode 754: (Aunt) Trish Ellis and (Niece) Evelyn Wallace, part 1: Not Even Cancer Holds Her Back. We mentioned Beth, Evelyn’s mom and Trish’s sister. All three of them took the workshop. Beth has been picking up litter ever since. She lives in Mérida, Mexico, where she organizes others to pick up litter too.

They created a web page: Yo ❤ Mérida limpia. ¿Y tú?, which states their mission and vision:

Mission: To promote the care, cleanliness, and respect for Mérida’s public spaces through community actions that strengthen environmental awareness, a sense of belonging, and citizen participation.

Vision: To build a Mérida where every person takes pride in caring for their surroundings, making cleanliness and respect for nature part of our city’s culture.

The viral video

Someone saw her picking up litter with her “Yo ❤ Mérida” sign and posted it with the words “Extranjera Limpia las calles De Mérida“, meaning “Foreign woman cleans the streets of Mérida“. I think the original video went up June 30.

It’s since been viewed close to 2 million times. Beth found out about it after.

People have reposted it to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and probably others multiple times. Scroll down for a newspaper article, which describes more.

The newspaper article and social media posts

Here’s the text from the Facebook version:

A foreigner cleaning the streets of Mérida 😱

With the slogan “I love a clean Mérida” on her cart, this woman—who appears to be a foreigner—spent time picking up trash along at least five blocks in the city center.

Apparently, this is something she does every day as part of her morning routine.

It is wonderful to see so many foreigners who have made Mérida their permanent home taking small actions to help keep the city as beautiful as ever.

Here’s a newspaper article (English translation below): Extranjeras dan ejemplo a los meridanos

Mérida, Yucatán.— Trash has met an unexpected enemy in Mérida. It is neither a government program nor an official cleanup crew, but rather a group of foreign women who—armed only with a cart, a grabber tool, and a strong desire to help—dedicate part of their time to cleaning the streets of the Yucatecan capital.

One of them was recently spotted walking through several streets of the Historic Center, pushing a cart bearing the slogan “I love a clean Mérida” while picking up the litter she encountered along the way.

According to witnesses, the woman walked at least five blocks collecting trash—an activity that, local residents say, is part of her daily routine and something she does practically every day.

The scene drew attention because, while hundreds of people pass through the Center daily—and many leave litter on public streets—it was someone who chose Mérida as her home who decided to take action on an issue affecting the city’s image.

However, this is not an isolated case.

For some time now, a group of foreign women living in Mérida, as well as others who spend long periods in the city, has been organizing volunteer cleanup events to remove trash from streets, parks, and public spaces.

Their main meeting point is the intersection of 43rd Street and Paseo de Montejo; every Sunday at 8:00 a.m., they set out to collect waste left behind by passersby.

Although they initially focused on Paseo de Montejo—one of the city’s most iconic and visited areas—over the weeks they have expanded their efforts to other public spaces, including the area around the Salvador Alvarado Stadium and various streets in the Center.

Dressed in light clothing and wearing hats or caps, and using tools to pick up waste without touching it with their hands, they contend not only with the trash but also with the high temperatures characteristic of the Yucatecan capital. Far from merely pointing out the problem or criticizing a lack of civic responsibility, these volunteers decided to take action, convinced that small deeds can help preserve the beauty of a city renowned for its cleanliness and quality of life.

In addition to collecting trash, they invite other citizens—both locals and visitors—to join their Sunday cleanup efforts, aiming to raise awareness about the importance of keeping public spaces clean.

Their work also sends a message to the community: keeping Mérida clean does not depend solely on the authorities, but also on the commitment of those who live in and enjoy the city every day. While some continue to litter on streets, in parks, and along avenues, these women demonstrate that love for Mérida can also be expressed through simple actions—actions capable of making a visible difference for everyone.

Here’s the English translation of the text from the TikTok video:

Foreigner cleaning the streets of Mérida 😱

With the slogan “I love a clean Mérida” on her cart, this woman—who appears to be a foreigner—spent time picking up trash along at least five streets in the city center.

It seems this is something she does every day as part of her morning routine.

It is wonderful to see how, through small actions, many foreigners who have made Mérida their permanent home are doing their part to keep the city as beautiful as ever.

A foreigner cleaning Mérida’s streets: a story and an example

A foreign woman was spotted cleaning the streets of downtown Mérida, pushing a cart bearing the slogan “I love a clean Mérida.” According to reports, she collected trash along at least five streets; apparently, she performs this task daily as part of her morning routine.

This simple gesture stands out for several reasons:

• A daily habit: The description indicates that this is a regular practice, not a one-time event.
• A visible message: The slogan on her cart clearly communicates her purpose and her love for the city.
• Local impact: Through small actions like this, both residents and foreigners help keep downtown Mérida clean and beautiful.

For those looking for things to do in Mérida, Yucatán, this example suggests practical ways to contribute: participating in cleanup drives, respecting public spaces, reducing waste, and supporting community initiatives. Seeing people who have made Mérida their permanent home engaged in the daily work of urban care reaffirms the value of community and affection for the city.

Would you like to join a similar activity in Mérida or learn about other ways to help keep the city clean?

Here’s the English translation of the text and a few comments from the Instagram post:

A foreign resident was spotted walking through various streets of the Historic Center with a cart and a sign reading “I love a clean Mérida,” picking up trash.

According to witnesses, she does this regularly as part of her morning routine, demonstrating her commitment to caring for the city.

The initiative has been praised by Mérida residents, highlighting how many foreigners who have made the Yucatecan capital their home contribute through small actions to keep it beautiful and clean.

Yucatecans throw a lot of trash on their streets 😢

Do you think those chubby, short-necked indigenous women are going to start doing that????😂😂

An example to follow… clean people who don’t like living in shiiiiit… as Tila Maria Sesto would say… let’s follow her example… and ABOVE ALL, LET’S AVOID LITTERING 🗑️ ON THE STREET. THAT’S WHAT TRASH CANS ARE FOR. Let’s keep things clean—it’s for the good of all of us Yucatecans…

They’re always sticking their noses where they don’t belong 😂😂

It’s so simple—just do the same. It’s up to all of us—natives, transplants, and foreigners—to keep our surroundings clean. Let’s all contribute to this great city, but in a positive way, by doing our part and what comes naturally to us; good manners start with the individual.

But some people have absolutely no shame; NO ONE bothers to pick anything up. On the contrary, they throw trash everywhere. Nobody even sweeps the front of their own house anymore 🤬🤬🤬

👏👏👏❤️ She looks out for those who don’t help 😢❤️

I really like this—how lovely 👏👏

WHAT A DISGRACE, MEXICO

Thank you, thank you 🙏

She’s pretty; I’d treat her to a lemonade after she finishes cleaning

What a wonderful lady 🙌👏

Thank you for inspiring us to take better care of our city

She should come to Tijuana

When you’re well-raised …in your own home, it’s because things are truly bad.

More will probably come soon. If you speak Spanish, check out Beth’s group’s home page: Yo ❤ Mérida limpia. ¿Y tú?.