EcoEKY: Green News from Eastern Kentucky

from the Harlan Daily Enterprise:

JOHN MIDDLETON/Harlan Daily Enterprise
Wal-Mart assistant manager Ross Everage presented a check in the amount of $500 to Harlan County 4-H agent Raymond Cox during the annual Earth Day festivities Thursday.


Trees distributed as part of Earth Day celebration

By JOHN MIDDLETON
Staff Writer
Published:
Friday, April 25, 2008 1:15 AM CDT

Residents from around Harlan County traveled to Wal-Mart on Thursday to pick up trees that were given away as part of an annual Earth Day celebration.

Hundreds of people waited in line outside of the building to receive one of the hundreds of black oak, red oak, black walnut, redbud and white dogwood trees that were donated by the Harlan County 4-H Club, Harlan County Conservation District, Kentucky Division of Forestry and Wal-Mart.

“We have tree seedlings here to give to everybody,” said Susan Mavinidis of the Harlan County Conservation District. “We are hoping they will go home and plant them and beautify their home and Harlan County.”

Raymond Cox, a 4-H agent with the Harlan County Extension Office, said he was happy to see the trees given to citizens who will plant them around the county.

*
“We will be giving away about 1,000 trees today,” Cox said. “If they take the trees and set them out in their community, we will have some more of these beautiful trees that you see around on these mountains.”

During the event, Wal-Mart donated a $500 check to the Harlan County 4-H Camp.

“We raised $500 that we are going to donate to 4H camp to kick off the tree event,” said Wal-Mart assistant manager Ross Everage. “We wanted to participate with them this year and actively be involved in the event.

“We hope it will show people that Wal-Mart is trying our best to be a part of the community here in Harlan.”

Wal-Mart also raised $550 that was used to purchase trees for the event.

“People can plant these trees around their homes and restore the environment,” Everage said. “We want to do our best to give back to the community.”

Bob Kelly of the Kentucky Division of Forestry said the trees that were given away would help the county in the future.

“This helps our tree production through the years,” Kelly said. “It’s good for the environment.”

In addition to the trees, a Yard Machine riding lawnmower was given away. The mower was won by Donnie Ray Lewis, of Evarts.

Officials said the were pleased with the turnout for the event.

To conclude the festivities, a tree was planted behind the Wal-Mart building. Everage said employees will look after the tree as it grows in the upcoming years.