Volunteers in the Village of Martin spent the morning of April 25 helping clean up the community as part of Louisiana’s Love the Boot initiative. The cleanup was held from 8 a.m. to noon, with volunteers collecting more than 90 bags of trash along Hwy. 507, Hwy. 155, Hwy. 786, Sledge Road and Benton Adkins Road.

Love the Boot is a statewide effort led by Keep Louisiana Beautiful and is considered Louisiana’s largest litter removal and beautification event, with groups participating in communities across all 64 parishes. The program encourages residents to take pride in their communities through cleanup, beautification, recycling and litter prevention efforts.

Volunteers in Martin ranged in age from 5 years old to retirement age. Participants received Love the Boot T-shirts provided by the state and lunch from Grayson’s. One first-time volunteer said, “It just makes you feel good to get out there and clean up!”

Those helping with the cleanup included Laura and Nealy Kate Keith; Cindy, Ella Rae and Everal Pickett; Brandon, Erica, Madalyn and Jace Baxley; Mike and Carol Tingle; Rex and Toni Lawson; Andy Long; Danny Snead; Kevin Robinette; Burt Robinette; and Mayor Mary Ann Longino.