Cedar Rapids NeighborWoods Tree Planting to Benefit Habitat Homes
Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (September 28, 2009) – In response to the disastrous flooding that irreparably damaged hundreds of Cedar Rapids homes in 2008, Trees Forever is partnering with Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity to address the need for affordable housing and to ensure green, sustainable redevelopment in Iowa’s battered communities.
The community improvement project will take place as follows:
10/3/09 – 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at College Park Estates and Wilderness Estates.
On Saturday, October 3, Trees Forever will lead a volunteer project to plant over 40 trees at the homes of 25 new Habitat for Humanity homeowners in College Park Estates and Wilderness Estates. Joining the new residents and Trees Forever community volunteers will be Team Depot associates from The Home Depot’s local stores.
"We’re thrilled that The Home Depot® shares our same local community values, and is showing that through their involvement. The Home Depot’s core values of ‘Giving Back’ and ‘Doing the Right Thing’ are a perfect fit for the impact we’re trying to make in this community," said Shannon Ramsay, Founding President of Trees Forever.
Alice Ewen Walker from the Alliance for Community Trees in Washington, DC, will be in attendance to talk about the benefits and value of trees, connections between affordable housing and greening, and to participate in the planting event. Tom Aller, Senior Vice President with Alliant Energy, and Cedar Rapids city officials will also be on hand to assist with the planting project.
Many of the Habitat homeowners receiving trees on Saturday lost their homes in the devastating 2008 floods and are attempting to start over in College Park and Wilderness Estates. The new trees will help reduce home energy costs, improve air quality, increase property values, and provide a renewed sense of community in these beautified neighborhoods. The new homeowners will enjoy the benefits from their trees for many years to come.
This campaign to make housing in Cedar Rapids healthier, greener, and more affordable through trees is made possible in part by a $10,000 National NeighborWoods Grant from the Alliance for Community Trees and The Home Depot Foundation. Trees Forever is one of ten organizations nationwide that received this highly competitive challenge grant in support of urban forestry and affordable housing partnerships. In addition, the project received a $4,400 grant through the Branching Out program, a partnership between Alliant Energy and Trees Forever.
The Home Depot Foundation, Trees Forever and the Alliance for Community Trees will also join forces on another Habitat for Humanity planting project in Des Moines on Monday, October 5. For more information on these planting events, please contact Trees Forever at 319-373-0650.