MLR PARTNERS WITH SIERRA TRASH ELIMINATORS
Mammoth Lakes Recreation has partnered with Sierra Trash Eliminators; an impromptu collective of citizen volunteers committed to removing litter, graffiti and other damage throughout the Eastern Sierra.
Sierra Trash Eliminators was founded by Erica Johnsen. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Johnsen had been working as a hairstylist at Blazing Shears until her salon closed due to COVID-19. Suddenly she found herself with a lot of time on her hands.
“I kept seeing all these posts online of trash or vandalism happening in our community and thought maybe I could make a difference,” said Johnsen.
Initially Johnsen, along with fellow volunteers Larry Palm and Breanna Rose Nieto, teamed up to remove some graffiti that had thoughtlessly been spray painted on trees and rocks in June Lake. The trio felt empowered by their actions and started conducting regular clean-ups in Mammoth and June Lakes. Their efforts got noticed and soon other community members began cleaning up their community, either with Johnsen and Nieto, or on their own.
Mammoth Lakes Recreation will be supporting Sierra Trash Eliminators by supplying them with tools and materials to assist them with their clean-up efforts, as well as logistical support in communicating and promoting events.
“It is important to support grassroots efforts like Sierra Trash Eliminators,” says Mammoth Lakes Recreation executive director, Matt McClain. “When community members come together like this, it’s very powerful and can have a pretty dramatic impact.”
To find out more about Sierra Trash Eliminators, visit their Facebook page:
Facebook.com/SierraTrashEliminators/,
About Mammoth Lakes Recreation
Formed in 2014, Mammoth Lakes Recreation’s mission is to deliver cutting edge sustainable recreation, mobility, and arts & culture opportunities and infrastructure for the benefit of the community and natural environment of Mammoth Lakes. For more information, go to www.mammothlakesrecreation.org.