Box Elder community comes together for “Cleaning Up the Box”

BOX ELDER, S.D. — Although it was a bit cold and rainy Friday, that didn’t stop the community of Box Elder from bundling up and getting some work done.

“We had over a hundred and eighty people attend this event today and we had 14 zones jam-packed. We picked up tons of trash and we’re just really excited,” said Brent Hendrickson, Box Elder Marketing Coordinator.

“Last year with COVID-19 this event took place but it took place with just city staff…this year we wanted to think bigger. We are kind of pleasantly surprised to see this big of a turnout, but it really doesn’t surprise me in a way; with this community they are small but they’re also a community that wants to be a part of something and they showed it today in big big droves,” said Jimmy Dettman, Box Elder Marketing Director.

“A small community like Box Elder…to have all these people come out and pitch in and really clean up the city, i sets a good precedent for what the future holds for Box Elder,” Hendrickson said.

“Over in the ditch by Vandenberg we found a twenty dollar bill and a little cat skeleton over by the sewer drainage,” said 12-year-old Brayden Lee.

“The ultimate take away is people taking pride in their community. You know, they see something on the ground they pick it up they don’t wait,” Dettman said.

Reporter: “Why did you think it was important to help out today?”

“Because the earth is dying from all the trash and just cleaning it up makes a huge difference,” said 11-year-old Layla Krebs.

“You know, the weather didn’t cooperate the way we wanted it to, but most groups that we talked to people were excited they were still happy they were moving around a lot and they had their hats and gloves and were appropriately dressed. You look around you and you see everybody in their t-shirts and it’s a sense of pride, it’s a sense of team, it’s a sense of community,” Dettman said.