Issue link: http://maconmagazine.uberflip.com/i/1541815
102 maconmagazine.com | December 2025/January 2026 A bundance can be described as a very large quantity of something tangible. It can also be seen as plentifulness of the good things in life, such as prosperity. DeMario D. Pitts, Jr. possesses both these qualities. As a voluntary caretaker of historic Unionville's streets and youth, the 46-year-old lifelong former resident and father of four has a large amount of love for his beloved neighborhood in west central Macon. He foresees a future there full of possibilities. He doesn't physically live there now, but he's still investing heavily in time and energy towards its return to prominence – picking up trash, cleaning discarded lots, working with Keep Macon-Bibb Beautiful as a partner, and teaching youth. Meet a man that, if abundance could walk and talk, it would mirror Pitts and his noteworthy acts of kindness. DeMario D. Pitts, Jr. STORY BY CLARENCE W. THOMAS, JR. PHOTO BY DSTO MOORE F i v e m i n u t e s w i t h What has your community caretaking ethos been among youth and how has it impacted them? They need to see us doing positive things. If they see more positive going on, they'll do better. I have a lot of them come out and help me with the clean ups, and they enjoy helping. It's doing a lot for them. Even my son is ready to go when I call him! It gives them a chance to establish something other youth can follow. Why do you go so hard for your neighborhood? Because Unionville has such a bad name and reputation. We have a lot of positives going on. It's not all negative. I feel like if I'm blessed and you bless others, it's how you continue getting those blessings. What's your message to Macon about abundance? We need to start with our kids, so they will give and stay in the positive. I see people from other communities, and they get active with the kids. I get ideas from other sources. They need to see more positive not just in Unionville but all across Macon. If people see others doing good things elsewhere, then people will believe it can be done where they are. We can't save anybody. And you can't save every child, but when I was young, I was inspired to do good with the help of a lot of people, because I can't do it by myself. Complete the following sentence: "If I don't give back…" I hope someone else would. What is it about Unionville? Why are you so invested? It's where I came up. It's home for me. It's family. I grew up on Lily Avenue. I still remember roads being paved. Wherever I move, Unionville will always be home. It's where I was raised and have family and friends. I would ask people what they thought about us doing this or that, and didn't get the feedback I was expecting, so I just stepped out on faith. The city isn't throwing trash on the ground. That's our responsibility. I've done it to also bring activities to our community for our children, like the [Halloween] Trunk or Treat I started on Poppy Avenue. We have to bring the good side of things to Unionville. Register your neighborhood for a cleanup or support the mission at keepmaconbibbbeautiful.org