December 2013 – New Jersey Tree Foundation

Trees Restore Beauty

Beth Kwart Benefits of Trees, Fundraising, Good Landscaping, Just for Fun, Pictures, Success Stories, Volunteers December 30, 2013

2013 was a busy year for us at the NJ Tree Foundation. In addition to planting trees in Camden and Newark we started a special project to reforest New Jersey communities that were devastated by Hurricane Sandy. Through this project, more than 2,000 trees were planted.

Hurricane Sandy sent six feet of salt water into Bay Head Elementary School and destroyed 30 trees on the school grounds. In October, we planted 37 new trees and 40 shrubs, grasses, and perennials to reforest the school’s landscape. Nearly all 140 students assisted in the planting! As one elementary schooler ran happily through the maze of newly planted trees, she exclaimed, “There are so many trees – and I want to hug them all!”

Bay Head Elementary School’s exterior beauty was restored by new trees. You can play a role in transforming communities in need through tree planting. It is not too late to make an end-of-year, tax deductible donation to the NJ Tree Foundation.

On behalf of all our 2014 tree recipients who will soon have beautiful trees, we thank you sincerely for your support.

Trees Inspire Hope

Beth Kwart Benefits of Trees, Fundraising, NJTF in the News, Success Stories, Volunteers December 26, 2013

Juanita Butler is an 87-year-old lifetime Camden resident who organized a tree planting on her block in 2011. She and her neighbors gathered with volunteers and the Mayor of Camden, Dana L. Redd, to plant 22 trees on her street. Today, the trees are doing wonderfully. Juanita describes how her tree planting transformed her street and catalyzed significant changes in her community.

“These trees bring so much life to our block! Even in the fall, they light up with the most beautiful yellow and red leaves. The planting of our trees brought my neighbors together.” She goes on to explain, “On the planting day we voiced our concerns about an abandoned and dilapidated building on our street. Mayor Redd shook my hand and promised to help.”

This year, the vacant building on Juanita’s street was demolished. Smiling ear to ear, Juanita told the NJ Tree Foundation, “We’re really getting things done!” But Juanita and her neighbors are just getting started. Next, she plans to create a community garden where the old building once stood and plant more trees on the surrounding streets.

In 2014, the NJ Tree Foundation wants to help Juanita continue greening her neighborhood. We want to keep planting trees across the state of New Jersey so that more people can experience the unity, hope, and beauty that come from planting trees in cities like Camden and Newark. We want to foster positive community change, and we need your help to make it a reality.

Please consider making an end-of-year, tax deductible donation to support the NJ Tree Foundation’s community forestry efforts. Your donation will inspire more stories like Juanita’s.

On behalf of all our tree recipients, we thank you sincerely for your support.

Volunteers Make Our Season Bright

Beth Kwart Just for Fun, Success Stories, Volunteers December 5, 2013

Each planting season, we hold a special place in our hearts for the volunteers that dedicate many Saturdays to our urban tree planting programs! In Camden and Newark, we rely heavily on these outstanding volunteers to dig holes, plant trees, lay mulch, and assist new volunteers at our planting events. This season, we would like to recognize:

Paul and Peter Warburton – Father & Son Tree Planting Team
Camden Urban Airshed Reforestation Program

Paul and Peter love the outdoors! In April, they heard about the NJ Tree Foundation’s Camden program in the newspaper and started volunteering. Since then, Paul and Peter have participated in dozens of Camden tree plantings. Paul explains, “Peter and I have learned quite a bit about planting and the finished product is always gratifying. It’s also kind of neat when we take the PATCO to Philly and we can see our planting handiwork. All of our tree planting experiences have been very positive. Thank you to NJTF. Keep it up!”

Building Blocks of NJ –
a Non-Profit Muslim Organization
Newark Renaissance Trees Program

Building Blocks of NJ (BBNJ) is based in Jersey City, and they believe in social services. Members from BBNJ participated in all of our Newark plantings this fall! Volunteers from BBNJ love being able to see the impact they have on the environment by physically planting trees. Khaled Dardir, a regular volunteer, is hooked on tree-planting, and plants with a purpose, “I want to plant enough tress to cover my carbon foot print.” He finds himself closer to nature through tree-plantings, “[It is] a practice of my religion to take care of the planet and preserve nature as much as possible.” Thank you to all of the hard-working volunteers that have come to plant trees through BBNJ. We look forward to seeing you again in the spring.

Also, thank you to the hundreds of other volunteers that made our fall planting season a success! To get involved, please visit our Volunteer Page or consider making a tax deductible donation to support tree planting across NJ. Thank you!