For Immediate Release
Date: October 31, 2013

WHAT:
Savannah City Council Alderman Tony Thomas and Chatham County Commissioner Lori Brady will participate in a tree-planting ceremony this weekend. The ceremony will kick-off a two-day effort led by the Savannah Tree Foundation that will utilize more than 100 volunteers to plant over 100 trees on vacant lots along Wilshire Blvd. and the canal. Members of the public are invited to join in the project as volunteers.

Some of the new trees will go into an area formerly uninhabitable by nature. In October, the City of Savannah removed a 12 inch-deep, 330 square-foot asphalt and concrete slab to create a home for nine crapemyrtles that will be planted during the event.

WHEN:
Saturday, Nov. 2, 10 a.m.: Tree Planting Ceremony. Volunteers will assemble at 9 a.m. and work till noon.
Sunday, Nov. 3, 2 p.m.: Volunteers assemble. Work till 5 p.m.

WHERE:
Participants will meet at the Elks Lodge, 183 Wilshire Blvd. on both days.

WHAT ELSE:
Volunteers don’t need to have any experience, special skills or equipment to participate. Participants should wear comfortable footwear and long trousers and sleeves. Refreshments will be provided. Volunteers from the general public will be joined by Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and students from the Shalom School, Calvary Day School and Armstrong Atlantic State University.

SAVANNAH TREE FOUNDATION is a 501(c)3 organization in its 30th year of preserving, protecting and planting the urban forests of Chatham County. The foundation employs direct action, advocacy and education to promote awareness of trees as a vital environmental resource and important part of our cultural heritage.