Tree Planting at Habitat for Humanity Homes Set for September 24, 2010

Mankato, Minn. (Sept 21, 2009) – Approximately 35 trees are being donated and planted to over 13 different families who live in Habitat for Humanity homes.  Envision 2020’s Bend of the River Million Tree Project is lining up volunteers to help plant them Friday morning at various locations throughout Mankato, N. Mankato and Eagle Lake.

The Minnesota Vikings provided a $1,000 matching donation to the downtown Mankato HyVee, who donated the other $1,000 from their proceeds from selling Caribou Coffee during this summer’s Verizon Wireless Viking’s Training Camp in Mankato.  Drummers Garden Center provided more than $700 worth of in-kind support to the project as well.

“These 35 larger trees will add to the over 15,000 that have already been paid for by community donations and planted by volunteers.  We are thrilled to have the Minnesota Vikings, HyVee, and Drummer’s make this significant donation to our community,” said Rich O’Brian, Bend of the River Million Tree Project Leader of Corporate Plantings.

This event is coordinated to coincide with the Minnesota Viking’s 2nd Annual Planet Purple Week. The Vikings created Planet Purple in conjunction with the NFL’s Green Team as an initiative with the mission of developing sustainable business practices and utilizing renewable energy in an effort to lessen the team’s impact on the environment. Planet Purple Week features several environmentally-focused events throughout the week.

Executive Director Julie Schmillen says, “Many of our families put so much time, money and sweat into their new home that there is little left for trees and landscaping in their yards. This donation will be appreciated by 13 families and their friends and neighbors who will enjoy them for decades.”

South Central Habitat for Humanity Background

Habitat for Humanity of South Central Minnesota, which began in 1989, is a non-profit, Christian housing ministry dedicated to building simple, decent and affordable housing with and for families in need. Today the Mankato Chapter has completed 43 homes with five more under construction.

Envision 2020 and Bend of the River Million Tree Project Background

Envision 2020 began more than four years ago, with a planning and visioning stage that included well over 400 citizens taking the time to engage in the important work of envisioning a desired future for the Greater Mankato region. Together, they organized a visionary plan into six Key Performance Areas and identified a total of 34 goals. One of those goals was to protect, preserve and revitalize green spaces.  The Bend of the River MillionTree Project set a goal of planting over a million trees throughout Greater Mankato by the year 2020.

For info contact Barb Embacher, 507.385.6644.