CRESTVIEW — Not only are Elvit Enlow’s daily aluminum can collections more secure, so is the Crestview Manor resident himself.
Due to an outpouring of public support, Enlow now has a secure enclosure to hold his cans, plus some cash to meet his personal expenses at the Manor.
Friendly Florist owner Susan Hollingshead spearheaded the effort to secure Enlow’s cans, leading to donations of cash, building supplies and labor to ensure the cans are safe until a monthly run to a scrap metal recycling center.
Hollingshead said donors continue to drop off aluminum cans at her business.
“When we came in Monday morning, there were five bags of cans waiting for him,” Hollingshead said. “People have brought cans and cans and cans. We have to bring them over to the Manor in our delivery van. There’s no way it’d all fit in Bob’s wagon.” Some locals know Enlow as “Bob.”
“They were coming in there and stealing his cans,” Manor maintenance employee Kevin Scott said of recent incidents, which led to a News Bulletin report on the issue.
A number of individuals expressed outrage upon learning about the thefts on the CNB’s Facebook page. Several donors stepped forward.
“Elvit was very blessed to have Charlie’s Fence Company come and set up the fence for him,” Scott said.
After the Holt company donated and constructed the 8-foot square chain-link enclosure, Hollingshead consulted with Manor Director Becky Brice-Nash to assure the rest of the donated money was properly used.
After some was used to purchase a security camera system to monitor the enclosure behind the Manor, Hollingshead was able to present Enlow with $1,190 Monday morning.
He’s not likely to keep much of it, Manor Activities Director Tiffany Wrathell said. Enlow likes to use most of his earnings to buy gifts for Manor staffers’ and residents’ children and grandchildren.
“He gets his money and that’s where it goes: to everybody else,” Wrathell said.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview donors help 'Can Man' after thefts
