AMHERST – The Zonta Club in Amherst brought forth a challenge to other organizations to join in the Adopt-a-Highway effort through the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal.
“Since we started in 1997, the section of highway heading out of Amherst from Allen’s Building Supply to the tourist information centre at the border has improved greatly with the amount of garbage discarded along the highway,” club president Shirley Ann Hallee said.
“Except for a couple of volunteers, it’s all women from the club that clean this stretch of highway twice a year.”
Hallee said the group has earned themselves the nickname of “Ditch Maidens” and that it really gives an impression to tourists and residents alike to see a clean, garbage-free roadside as they travel along the highway.
“The Department of Tourism realizes that the cleanliness impacts the views of tourists and for that reason has made it a joint effort to pitch in to help keep the highway clear of garbage,” Hallee said.
The Zonta Club, an international organization promoting equality and opportunity for women, encourages other clubs to get out there and adopt a section of highway and help keep Cumberland County clean.
The Zonta group spends two hours every spring and fall collecting garbage along Laplanche Street.
