Lakewinds Natural Foods Supports Tree Trust

Now through June 30, proceeds from Lakewinds Natural Foods’ Patch the Planet program will support Tree Trust’s trail maintenance, tree plantings and park improvement projects in the west metro.

The Patch the Planet program rewards shoppers who reuse cloth, paper or plastic bags for their groceries. When they reuse a bag, customers earn a green patch. Customers can apply the green patch towards their next purchase, or donate the patch to an environmental cause. From April to June, all donations will go to Tree Trust.

Do you live near the Minnetonka or Chanhassen Lakewinds Natural Foods store? Stop into this community-conscious market and support Tree Trust – don’t forget your reusable bags!

Happy Earth Day!

Friday, April 22 is Earth Day, a day that inspires and mobilizes people around the world to to protect and preserve the Earth’s natural environment.
You’ve probably heard the expression, “Earth Day is every day!” And that’s especially true at Tree Trust.

Every day, for 35 years, we have worked in partnership with youth and adults to improve the local environment and transform their lives. We still do this today, because we believe there is a need — now more than ever — to connect people with one another and the natural world.

As we celebrate our 35th anniversary, we’re proud of our impact on the Twin Cities.

We’ve involved 13,000 volunteers in the planting and distribution of 76,000 trees and 380,000 seedlings, shrubs and plants.

We’ve educated 105,000 students on the importance of protecting and preserving the environment.

We’ve helped 42,000 youth and adults gain job skills and self-confidence while leaving a lasting, positive impact in their own communities.

What are you doing to celebrate Earth Day? How about getting involved with us? Volunteer to plant trees this spring or make a donation to support our work.

In observance of Earth Day, we hope you'll come together around our common environmental cause: trees for the Twin Cities. Whether you volunteer, donate, or spread the word, your support makes our community that much greener.

Funding for youth programs in jeopardy.

For 35 years our summer Youth Conservation Corps program has helped thousands of Twin Cities youth build self-confidence and make a lasting difference in their own communities.

As we prepare for our 2011 program, we are reminded of the significance of this program. So far this year, we have received nearly 1,000 applications, demonstrating the program’s importance.

Our summer program exists because of State and Federal funding. This funding from the government accounts for more than 85% of what we need to operate the program. The more money we receive, the more youth we can serve.

As you may know, the State Legislature and Governor are faced with a large deficit as they work out this year’s budget. One item on the chopping block: the Minnesota Youth Program, one of the critical sources of funding for our summer program.

We have already reduced the size of this program because of cuts in Federal funding. If Minnesota Youth Program funding is cut, it will reduce the number of youth we can serve even more.

You can help.

Contact your local representative today. Ask him/her to keep the Minnesota Youth Program in the 2011 budget at the same level as in 2010.

To find your representative, visit http://www.leg.state.mn.us/leg/districtfinder.aspx or call Felecia at 952-767-3884.