In the wake of the destructive May 16 tornado that swept through St. Louis, uprooting the green landscape along with the lives of residents, the City of St. Louis has united with the Clark-Fox Family Foundation and several local organizations to launch Trick or Tree™, a unique fundraiser this Halloween aimed at replenishing the city's damaged tree canopy, according to a statement from the City of St. Louis Recovery Office. It's reported that upwards of 10,000 trees were either removed or pruned post-tornado, which only accounts for public lands—the figure excludes thousands more affected on private properties and by community efforts.
The Trick or Tree™ initiative is set to transform the typical Halloween door-to-door quest for sweets into a community-driven collection for tree-planting funds, the program encourages children and their families to seek donations on the night of October 31, providing a meaningful yet joyous twist to the tradition while actively contributing to the local rebuilding efforts, as stated on the City of St. Louis' website. Participating Commerce Bank branches throughout St. Louis and three additional locales in Illinois have been established as designated donation drop-off points for contributions gathered by these young environmental champions.
Mayor Cara Spencer lauded the ingenuity of the Trick or Tree™ campaign, expressing gratitude towards the Clark-Fox Family Foundation for engaging youth in philanthropy through this program and acknowledging that the labor of today's children is an investment in future shade and enjoyment, the city's announcement highlighted. Maxine Clark, CEO of the Clark-Fox Family Foundation, echoed the sentiment, proclaiming the initiative not only turns Halloween festivities into a heroic venture for local kids but also plants the seeds of resilience within the community fabric itself.
Forest ReLeaf of Missouri's Executive Director, Meredith McAvoy Perkins, stressed the significance of every dollar raised, underscoring that these donations won't just put trees in the ground; they will stand as living testaments to hope and progress for future St. Louisans, and Lesley S. Hoffarth, P.E., President and Executive Director of Forest Park Forever, was quoted praising the alliance between joy and stewardship that Trick or Tree™ brings, not to mention the tangible environmental benefits such as revived shade, improved air quality and natural habitats that are promised to stem from the replanted trees, according to the City of St. Louis' press release.
