BILLINGS – Some local businesses in Billings got together to inspire change and clean up trash at Zimmerman Park, Sunday.
Connor Lorenz and Tucker Veltkamp organized the cleanup effort.
Lorenz owns Extrinsic, a Billings-based clothing and music booking company, and Collective Elevation, a medical marijuana dispensary. Veltkamp owns TOPZ Sandwich Company.
The two created a Facebook event and provided gloves and trash bags for people looking to help.
Lorenz had great enthusiasm when he said, “Man were out here cleaning up trash, bro!”
Lorenz and Veltkamp said the idea came about after thinking about ways to make a positive change.
“It brings people together in the community for one common goal. And that’s becoming a better community,” Veltkamp said.
A half hour into the cleanup effort about 30 people were patrolling Zimmerman Park looking for trash.
Lorenz said the partnership hopes to make cleanups like this one a regular occurrence around Billings.
“We kind of did it in hopes to spark interest for people to do stuff like that for the city,” Lorenz said. “Not just trash cleanups, but any type of charity work or any way to give back to the city.”
Lorenz said he hopes to set an example for others to follow.
“I felt like if we could bring people together to actively stay on top of this,” Lorenz said. “And inspire people not just to clean up on the cleanup days but whenever they see trash throughout the community. Just to clean up the city entirely is huge and super important.”
If you would like to attend the next cleanup event, keep an eye on any of the following Facebook pages: Collective Elevation, Extrinsic, or TOPZ Sandwich Company.
