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It was a really hot summer.
So, seven Chestnut Hill Rotary volunteers decided to take care of and water eight newly planted trees at Eleanor C. Emlen Elementary School over the summer, donating over 120 hours over three months.
Video of volunteers caring for the trees over the hot summer.
The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, in partnership with Asplundh, had planted the eight trees in May, which was part of an overall program that saw 2,200 trees in Philadelphia. Emlen is one Chestnut Hill Rotary’s partner schools.
Rotary volunteers Carol Bates, Dietrich Bilger, Herb Henze, Ngimbi Kuvuna, Christopher Ridenhour, Phil Tankel, and Maggie Stoeffel were regularly joined by Amelia Duffy- Tumasz, Ph.D., Mt. Airy Tree Tender, and Doug Kingsbury, Mt. Airy resident. The volunteers watered and cared for the trees over the summer until teachers and administrators returned for the new school year.
“It was a big undertaking but rewarding effort,” said Carol Bates, organizer of the service project. The effort required volunteers to water the trees twice a week by unfurling several hundred yards of hoses and a “bucket brigade” of volunteers.
