Both the JROTC and the Honors Society have joined local anti-trash organization Don’t Trash Wareham’s cause, as part of the organization’s educational outreach initiative.

JROTC senior Army instructor Matt Stanton said the JROTC on Wednesday collected “10 good-size white trash bags,” while Honors Society advisor Jo Ann Salamone said the 20 Honors Students who cleaned around their neighborhoods collected a total of about 8 bags Friday. Don't Trash Wareham co-founder Nora Bicki said the Key Club collected 16 bags of trash at the Minot Forest school Friday.

“There was a good amount of trash,” Stanton said. “The kids were happy they were doing something that could make an impact on the community. They felt good about being able to volunteer time for an effort like this.”

Stanton said the students found quite a bit of unusual trash, including a pair of intact women’s shoes and socks. He said there were “a lot of cigarette butts,” and that the kids were instructed to leave needles alone, and get the nearby Tobey Hospital to dispose of them.

Because of the area the JROTC students “adopted” to clean, they naturally ended up near Kendrick House, a home for disabled veterans.

“It was a great opportunity for the JROTC to talk with veterans and learn about their service,” Stanton said.

Though the Honors Society students cleaned in various neighborhoods Friday, rather than a specific area, Salamone said the students felt no less a responsibility to the town.

“It is important, because they are leaders,” Salamone said. “If they start doing it, other people will do it.”