Recover, Replant & Restore

As a result of this summer’s tornadoes and flooding, Midwesterners have lost tens of thousands of trees and plants in our communities and rural areas. Many low income and older, established neighborhoods in cities and towns alike were devastated by these natural disasters. Hundreds of farms and acreages, downtown districts, public parks, and schools were  also impacted!  The Trees Forever Board of Directors and staff are responding with strong leadership and determination to help these communities and landowners recover and restore the trees and natural areas damaged or lost to the flooding,  tornadoes and other disasters. The Board is leading the effort through the newly established Trees Forever Campaign to Recover, Replant & Restore, with a goal of raising $200,000 toward this effort.

The Campaign to Recover, Replant & Restore received a $50,000 lead gift thanks to Van Meter Industrial. Former Trees Forever board member and Van Meter President & CEO Barry Boyer stated, "Van Meter is pleased to give back to the communities it serves that have been hit hard by the flooding and storms. I would like to personally challenge all current  and past Trees Forever friends and supporters to give to this important campaign."

For homeowners and neighborhoods adversely affected by natural disasters, replanting and nurturing trees in their yards and along neighborhood streets is an important part of the recovery and rebuilding process. "Over the years, we have seen how important the act of planting trees is to people and communities," notes Shannon Ramsay, Trees Forever Founder and President. "We have seen the community spirit and pride that grows  from planting trees and beautifying an entryway to a town, or the local park or school grounds, or on Main Street downtown!" Trees Forever will focus work and funds from the Campaign to Recover, Replant & Restore in communities and rural areas based upon need and demand. Projects being considered at this time include:

• Replanting public parks and greenbelts
• Tree and landscape plantings at schools
• Downtown district greening and replanting
• Replanting or establishing buffers on farms and acreages

Trees Forever staff has begun contacting existing partners in affected communities to offer assistance in their recovery efforts. Other communities are invited to contact us directly. In some areas, replanting efforts will need to wait until the storm and flood cleanup is complete. At that time, Trees Forever will work with local volunteers to develop and coordinate appropriate replanting projects.

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Flood Recovery Brochure (683 k)