Hay River (July 17/06) - You never know what you will find blowing around a Northern town.

In Hay River, teenage volunteers from the local youth centre have been picking up litter from the streets and sidewalks for years. Along the way they've found some pretty offbeat things.

Teenagers from the Hay River Community Youth Centre, including Donovan Hudson and Stefanie Ekenale, clean up the downtown core on July 5. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

"We've found everything imaginable," said Kevin Wallington, the co-ordinator of the Hay River Community Youth Centre.

Wallington, who first began picking up garbage when he was a teen volunteer at the youth centre, said the clean-up crews have found money, school report cards and personal papers apparently blown out of dumpsters. "And a million and one cigarette butts," he adds.

Donovan Hudson, 18, has also found someone's unusual items.

"Someone threw a porno magazine at me from the highrise," he said, quick to note he took the magazine and put it in a garbage bag.

Hudson, who is in his second year picking up litter, also found a $20 bill.

And, probably most intriguing item of all, was a love letter he found on the street. Unfortunately, he couldn't identify who wrote it or who they were wooing.

The youth centre has had a clean-up contract with the Town of Hay River for about a decade. This year, the centre gets $10,000 for cleaning up the downtown twice a week during the summer, up from $5,000 in previous years. The area includes the downtown section of Woodland Drive, Capital Drive and the streets connecting the two.

Wallington said the number of teenagers volunteering for the clean-ups can range up to 10.

"We have our handful of hardcores who come out rain or shine," he said, adding it's difficult to get some teens to participate, because they simply don't want to be seen picking up garbage.

However, Hudson is not deterred. "Where else can you make an idiot of yourself and still crack jokes about it?"

The teens sometimes do get compliments for their efforts from people passing by.

Kudos aside, Wallington said the $10,000 is a big help for the centre and makes up about one-eighth of its annual budget.

"That's a serious chunk of money when you get to the end of the year," he said, noting most of the money goes towards the centre's operation.

Wallington also tries to ensure the young people get something for their efforts at the end of the summer. This year, new pool cues and satellite radio are on the wishlist if there's enough cash left over once all of the bills are paid.