Seven mattresses, 18 tires, a bicycle or two, a loveseat, and dozens upon dozens of bags of trash from Onset to West Wareham were dropped off at dumpsters at E.L. Morse Lumber and the Municipal Maintenance parking lot during the Wareham Town-wide Trash Clean-up, held May 13-16.

"We've had a really good response. I'm really impressed," said Mary Bruce, who organized the event in just three weeks after seeing many areas in Wareham were in need of litter clean-up.

SEMASS disposed of the trash for free. Workers said Wareham residents picked up 1.43 tons of street trash in total.

At least 300 people participated in the event, with more who dropped by to help out as news of the effort spread. Volunteers included the Wareham High School National and Jr. Honor Societies and the JROTC program, along with Boy Scout troops, neighborhood groups, and concerned individuals.

Bruce and volunteers noticed many unusual items during the clean-up, but none quite as unexpected as the three kittens found on the side of the road on Stillman Memorial Drive.

"It looked like a scarf or something," Bruce said of the huddled-together cats. "They were freezing cold."

The kittens were taken to Marion Animal Hospital. No word yet on how they're doing, Bruce said.

In other discoveries, volunteers said coffee drinkers were big litterers - and seemingly repeat offenders - on Tobey Road. A team picked up 112 coffee cups, 28 of which were cups of iced coffee labeled "hazelnut" and containing the same add-in.

Citizens from all Wareham neighborhoods were invited to participate in the effort to clean as much litter from the town's roadways, parks, and beaches as possible.

"To get just one person to come out and pick up trash is awesome," said Bruce. "I know people really stepped up."

SEMASS donated trash bags and reflective vests. The dumpsters were donated by Howland Disposal and Janco Environmental Services.