GUILFORD – They planted flowers on Wednesday, picked up trash along roadsides, read to elementary children and raked grass, as a gesture of thanks.

For the past two years, Piscataquis Community High School students have devoted a morning in May to giving something back to the towns of Guilford, Sangerville, Abbot, Parkman, Wellington and Cambridge for their financial support for education.

“It’s a celebration day,” PCHS Principal Kevin Jordan said Wednesday.

He said the students help the communities in the morning and for that donated work, administrators and the faculty treat them to a barbecue. The afternoon is spent on a variety of fun activities, such as swimming at the Piscataquis Regional YMCA, hiking and boating.

Sangerville Town Manager Dick Drummond, for one, appreciates the volunteerism. He said the students worked hard to improve the recreation field and cleaned the roadsides.

“They did a wonderful job,” he said Wednesday. He also extended his thanks to Ollie Faulkner, a teacher and volunteer, who provided a truck, rakes and trash bags for the cleanup.

“It made me feel good to do something for the towns because they always do so much for us and I like to give them something back for a change,” said freshman Courtney Davis of Guilford.

Chrissy Taylor and Ashley Butler, both freshmen who read to elementary pupils, said it “felt good” to help the youngsters.

“It made me feel like I did something important,” Butler said.