The Mattapoisett Lions Club is inviting all community residents to indicate their interest in supporting a joint Lions and Boy Scout Troop 53 tree planting project. This event is part of the Lions Clubs International Million Tree Planting Campaign, a global campaign taking place from July 2011 to June 2012 that focuses on caring for the environment and our communities through tree planting.
The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) and Lions Clubs International (LCI) committed to planting 1.5 million trees in Kenya. The United Nations has declared 2011 the International Year of Forests.
Forests not only provide environmental benefits, but also offer significant income and livelihood options for more than one billion people around the globe. Trees provide a wide range of products (timber, fruit, medicine, beverages and fodder) and valuable services, including sequestering carbon, providing shade, controlling erosion, beautifying landscapes and increasing the fertility of soil.
Lions Clubs International President Wing-Kun Tam welcomed the partnership, saying, “Trees help the environment by providing an array of benefits, including more oxygen for humans and homes for animals. I believe this partnership will change the landscape of our communities for the better within just one year.”
LCI’s tree planting program builds on a 2011 commitment to plant one million trees globally – a commitment that has already been surpassed by 500 percent, with over 5 million trees having already been planted worldwide since July 2011.
“Lions clubs from around the world have been committed to protecting the environment for several decades and we understand that every small effort makes a big difference. That’s why we are doing our part to reach our goal of planting a million trees,” said King Lion Joe Murray, club president. In addition to the club’s upcoming tree planting event, the club conducts a variety of projects including Collection and recycling of used eye glasses and hearing aids. If you would like to assist the local Lions in this tree planting effort contact KL Joe at 774-217-0621 or e-mail lion41753@cs.com.
Lions clubs are groups of men and women who identify needs within the community and work together to fulfill those needs. For more information or to get involved with the Mattapoisett Lions Club, please contact Don Correia at 508-758-4738 or e-mail drtire@aol.com or visit www.mattapoisett lionsclub.org.
In addition to its efforts toward conquering blindness, Lions Clubs International makes a strong commitment to community service and helping youth throughout the world. It works to empower volunteers to serve their communities, meet humanitarian needs, encourage peace and promote international understanding through Lions clubs around the world. It has more than 1.35 million members in 206 countries. To learn more about Lions Clubs International, visit www.lionsclubs.org.