Charles Datulayta (The Beacon)
By Charles Datulayta, Guest Commentary
Friends of Trees has planted over 450,000 trees since its roots in 1989 and has brought countless communities and volunteers together on Saturday mornings to change the green-scape of Portland and Vancouver. The 2012-2013 season began on Nov. 3 in SE Portland where freshman Paul Steiner, freshman Brooke Holmes, junior Gabriel Trainer, and sophomores Rio Marquez-Hammitt and Hailey Truax were trained to lead crews of volunteers in their community building and tree planting experience. When all's said and done, these crew leaders will have led over 210 volunteers and planted over 450 trees all over Portland and Vancouver.
The University itself has supported Friends of Trees and the community by having trees planted by volunteers on UP-owned property. On Willamette Blvd. alone you can observe Friends of Trees yard signs and the distinctive stake and twine setups that accompany over 100 trees in front of houses that Pilots live in.
This Saturday, Feb. 16, is the highly anticipated University/Cathedral Park and St. John's Friends of Trees planting. As the neighborhood of our University of Portland, Pilots have come out to show their purple pride and plant over 200 trees in the area each year.
Join your fellow Pilots and plant 200 trees once again in our North Portland neighborhood! A full breakfast of milk, juice, Starbucks brewed coffee, local baked goods, Kind bars, fruits and Voodoo donuts will be provided. Gluten-free options are included! Volunteers will meet Saturday morning at 8:00 in the Pilot House.
At the staging site, you will be introduced to the many sponsors such as Starbucks, PGE and Voodoo Donuts while you are munching on your morning meal. Volunteers will be grouped into crews and sent on their way to plant trees in nearby neighborhoods. When all the trees are happily in the ground, we will partake in a feast of a lunch that includes pizza, soups and local on-the-spot made meals.
Friends of Trees plantings are holistic community building opportunities where you can experience every area of Portland in its own unique flavor and style. Not only are you visiting new neighborhoods, you are transforming their homes, getting to know the people who live there and eating their cuisine. The people you meet and the connections you make can thrive outside of the service and can open doors to job opportunities and sought after internships.
Sophomore Matt Gadbois said, "I always sign up for Friends of Trees plantings because I can't believe what a good effect the organization has on our environment. But what really motivates me to get up early in the morning for a planting is knowing that I will get away from campus to meet and work with lots of cool people and eat amazing local food."
Chances are you've heard about Friends of Trees, planted yourself or know someone who has. Just ask anyone who's done Friends of Trees before and they'll tell you that it's a great, hands-on, energizing and holistic community building experience for all.
Charles Datulayta is a sophomore mechanical engineering major. He can be reached at datulayt15@up.edu.
