MEET MILO, THE 7 YEAR-OLD CLEANING HIS COMMUNITY, AND THE FRANCHISEE HELPING HIM ALONG THE WAY

When Firehouse Subs Oshkosh Place restaurant owner Steve Ahrens saw a local mom post about her 7-year old son seeking a wagon to collect litter in, he knew just how to help. 

On a community Facebook group, Michelle Cruz posted about how her son Milo hates to see trash on the ground and walks miles a day picking up litter. She ended her post asking if anyone had recommendations for a wagon that Milo could carry trash bags in. 

This post caught the eye of Steve, who messaged Michelle asking for her to call him the next day to learn more about their story. Michelle and Milo ended up meeting Steve at his Firehouse Subs restaurant  where he revealed that he was going to have a custom-made wagon created just for Milo. 

Michelle, a single mother and caretaker at a local nursing home, was overcome by the kind gesture. She never expected to get a free wagon, but rather was hoping that a fellow Facebook user had either a recommendation for an inexpensive one or a used one that she’d be able to spruce up for her son. 

During their meeting at the restaurant, Steve asked Milo what we wanted written on the side of the wagon, to which he said, “Please don’t litter, save our earth! I want a future.”

About a week and a half later, the specially-designed wagon arrived, and Milo and his mom picked it up along with a red Firehouse Subs pickle bucket to collect trash in. Michelle says that Milo started taking an interest in picking up trash at the age of six and now makes it a point to collect litter wherever he goes. 

Steve has owned his Oshplace Place restaurant since April 2016.