Concord Neighbor Residents and Rotarian Plant Trees
BY: Mike Howard, E&B Committee
Do you recall the first time you ever used a shovel? Neither do I. It is a rather simple device – no moving parts, no buttons to push, no screen to view, no automated voice issuing monotone commands. You probably just picked up the shovel and – well, shoveled.
Thirty some IPS students joined Rotarians, Concord Neighborhood residents and members from that other club with the initial “K” on Saturday, November 20, to plant 31 service berry, oak and maple trees along a two block stretch of Meridian just south of I-70. The trees were donated by Indianapolis Power and Light and are a part of their continuing program to “re-green” urban Indianapolis.
Some of the students said they had never used a shovel before and were willing to learn where to place their hands and how to use leverage to get the job done. Smiles crept over their faces as they saw the work they accomplished. Most had never planted trees so they learned the type of trees, the care of the trees and how trees benefit the neighborhood. When they completed the planting, the kids were given bright green Concord T shirts and treated to pizza.
Teaching kids new skills, explaining the benefit of the work they were doing and beautifying the neighborhood are examples of Rotarians “paying it forward.”
