Auntie Litter

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Auntie Litter is a character was created by Pat Mitchell to facilitate environmental education in the Birmingham area. She hit on the concept while visiting Gulf Shores and witnessing several people littering. Her idea was that she was a counterpart to Uncle Sam, dedicated to keeping America beautiful. She initially tried to interest existing groups in adopting the character, but during a cold call to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency a staffer encouraged her to start the project herself.

She assembled her costume consisting of a green-and-white striped long sleeved top and hairbow, green leggings with white socks, and a blue smock dress and shoes decorated with white stars. She printed a banner reading "Auntie Litter Needs You" and set up a booth at Birmingham's Earth Day event to hand out litter bags.

From there she began booking programs and rallies for schools, civic clubs and youth groups. She recruited kids to join her "Pollution Patrol" with a charge to "Reduce, Re-Use, and Recycle".

She founded the non-profit organization Auntie Litter, Inc. in 1990, with offices at 1776 Independence Court in Homewood on Shades Mountain. Volunteer board members have included Bart Starr, Bill Ireland and actor Ed Begley Jr.

Over the years, the organization grew, with other "Auntie Litter" educators donning the uniform throughout the country. In 1991 Mitchell received a "Take Pride in America Award" from President George H. W. Bush. In 1996 she was selected as one of the torch-bearers for the 1996 Olympic Torch Run through Birmingham.

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