Retired local promotes community spirit with 16-year voluntary cleanup at South Salem High

SALEM, Ore. (KATU) — If you're ever in the area near South Salem High School, you may see a friendly face. But, it's not the face of a teacher or school staff, but just a man who lives in the neighborhood.

John Piper has been volunteering his time to clean up the area outside of the high school five days a week for the last 16 years.

Piper, who's retired, said he was just looking to get out and get some fresh air many years ago and enjoys being around a school where his son used to go.

“I spend, I don’t know, maybe 20 hours a week on the fall time," he said of his passion project.

Piper tells KATU News there's always work to be done whether that's picking up leaves, taking out the trash, or other miscellaneous jobs to keep the campus in tip-top shape.

“You can see the results of your work and I know the school appreciates it," he explained.