For the past five years, the Northampton Rotary Club has organized an annual Day of Service tree planting project in partnership with the Department of Public Works, School District, Urban Forestry Commission and the non-profit Tree Northampton. This year, 40 adult and teen volunteers, along with other children and youth, worked with experienced Tree Northampton volunteers on April 18 to plant over two dozen trees at JFK Middle School. As they grow, these trees will help shade the school and grounds, purify the air and water, provide oxygen, and help curb climate change.
Special thanks to all who volunteered, including Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra, City Council President and Ward 7 Councilor Rachel Maiori, Ward 1 Councilor Gwen Nabad, Ward 2 Councilor Debra Klemer, former Ward 6 Councilor and Rotarian Marianne LaBarge, Ward 1 School Committee member Alena Bartoli, At Large School Committee member Robbie Saner Sullivan, Chief of Police John Cartledge, Northampton High School science teacher Dan Moylan, and 15 NHS students, along with Rotary members and other student, parent, and community volunteers. Volunteers called it a “great day” and a “wonderful experience for both young and old!”
Thanks also to those who made financial contributions to help purchase trees and supplies to use in future tree plantings, including a generous $1,000 contribution from Smith College. Contributions to the Tree Planting Project are still welcomed, and may be mailed to the Northampton Rotary Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 505, Northampton MA 01061. The Northampton Rotary Club is one of nearly 35,000 clubs across the globe, working to make our communities and world a better place. For more information and a link to the Northampton Rotary Foundation Facebook Page, go to https://northamptonrotaryclub.org/.
Barbara Devlin, Day of Service chairperson
Northampton Rotary Club