by Elisa Schlosser
Local Volunteers are taking action to clean, restore and renew Yellowstone County during the Bright n’ Beautiful Great American Cleanup. The event will kick-off at Billings Community Center on Saturday, April 27, 2019. The Great American Cleanup is the nation’s largest community improvement program.
Each year, they engage millions of volunteers and participants to take action in their local communities, creating positive change and lasting impact. Bright n’ Beautiful, along with other organizations in Keep America Beautiful’s national network of more than 600 community-based affiliates, plan volunteer events that help to remove litter and debris and reduce waste and improve recycling efforts.
“This is a great community event for a great community,” said Joanie Tooley, Executive Director of Bright n’ Beautiful. “Businesses, church groups, service clubs, and families get outside in the fresh air and pitch in together to make our part of Montana even brighter and more beautiful. After a long hard winter, it’s a feel-good experience for all of us.”
“Working with Bright n’ Beautiful, we can help advance environmentally and economically healthier communities, while making the important connection between people and their places,” said Helen Lowman, President and CEO, Keep America Beautiful. Here is a snapshot of Great American Cleanup events taking place in Yellowstone County:
April 27, the Billings Great American Cleanup kicks-off at Billings Community Center, 360 N. 23rd St. in downtown Billings. Teams of neighbors, friends, family, and co-workers are invited to check-in to pick up supplies (safety vests, latex gloves, pickers, free litter bags, bottled water). Doors open at 8:30 am. and teams will disperse to clean up neighborhoods, workplaces, parks, school grounds, Billings landmarks, stretches of road, and city alleys from 9am to 1pm, then return to deposit filled bags in dumpsters in the parking lot across the street and enjoy a free Brown Bag Lunch with neighbors. Pre-registration recommended so there will be appropriate supplies. Sign-up can be completed online at brightnbeautifulbillings@gmail.com. Call 406-248-6617 with questions.
April 27, Shepherd Cleanup Check-in at Shepherd Community Center will start at 8 am. A free community chili lunch will be served after cleanup. Call 406-947-5750 for information about the Shepherd Cleanup.
April 27, Huntley’s ‘Enough is Enough, Let’s Clean It Up’ Fun Highway Cleanup will be followed by free community cook-out and music celebration. Groups will gather at Barkemeyer Park at 9 am. Call 406-698-7685 for information about the Huntley Cleanup.
May 4, the Laurel Community Cleanup will begin at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 707 W. 3rd St. Cleanup will take place all-day from 8am-5pm with a free lunch served to participants. Call 406-628-8037 for information about the Laurel Cleanup.
May 4, thee Worden Cleanup will begin downtown at 8 am and head out to clean up around town. Participants will enjoy a free lunch with their neighbors. Call 406-647-5575 to volunteer or for information about the Worden Cleanup.
Bright n’ Beautiful, proud affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, is a nonprofit organization in Yellowstone County that strives to maintain a clean community through volunteer programs such as Great American Cleanup, Adopt-a-Spot, Christmas Tree Recycling, and beautification and recycling projects. We partner with organizations throughout the county to end littering, promote recycling and beautify the communities we serve.
Keep America Beautiful, the nation’s leading community improvement nonprofit organization, inspires and educates people to take action every day to improve and beautify their community environment. Established in 1953, Keep America Beautiful strives to End Littering, Improve Recycling and Beautify America’s Communities. We believe everyone has a right to live in a clean, green and beautiful community, and shares a responsibility to contribute to that vision. The organization is driven by the work and passion of more than 600 Keep America Beautiful affiliates, millions of volunteers, and the collaborative support of corporate partners, social and civic service organizations, academia, municipalities, elected officials, and individuals. Visit www.kab.org. for more information.
