Carolina Yanez didn’t set out to become Montreal’s beloved “Trashy Lady,” but after struggling with depression and needing fresh air, she started taking walks through the Plateau-Mont-Royal borough and picking up trash along the way. What began as casual cleanup walks in March quickly evolved into a purposeful mission to raise money for the Montreal SPCA, the organization where she adopted her cat April. Yanez launched a 50-day fundraising challenge in July with a goal of raising $8,000 for the animal shelter while cleaning up her community three to four times a week, rain or shine.
The response from Montrealers has been overwhelmingly positive, with people stopping to donate, ask questions, and even offer to help collect trash alongside her. So far, she’s raised over $4,000 on her GoFundMe campaign while collecting nearly 4,000 pieces of garbage in the process. Yanez chose the Montreal SPCA specifically because of their exceptional care for animals and even asked to adopt the cat they considered hardest to place. As she explains, “I believe this is the easiest way for anyone looking to get involved in their community,” proving that sometimes the most meaningful change starts with simple acts of caring.