Care Force Chronicle- Charleston, SC

By Florence Capinding

Partner: CSX
Volunteers: 38
Service Partner: Alliance for Community Trees
When: February 25-26
TCF: Phillip St Clair, Georgia Lawrence, Florence Capinding; Project Manager Huw McDonald

This was our first CSX trip for the year 2011. Although the event took place in late February, the weather in Charleston, South Carolina was just perfect!

This trip was a Trees for Tracks event with CSX. On our preparation day, Huw, Georgia, Phill, and I met Mike Sanders, the North Charleston arborist. He walked us through the planting site area and showed us where the various trees would go. He was just as ready for service as we were and it was inspiring!

On the day of the event, the CSX volunteers received a tree planting demonstration from Mike and from Leland Milstein, a Program Director from the Alliance for Community Trees. The CSX volunteers worked hard, planted 50 trees and laid pine straw around the trees in less than two hours. At the end of the event one of the volunteers stated:

“What a great way to get involved with the community. We even received immediate feedback when a community member stopped their vehicle and said thank you.”

Overall, it was a beautiful day to be outdoors working with co-workers, family, and friends. And I know the trees will also be beautiful when they grow.

After the CSX service event, we had the unique opportunity to go back to a Salvation Army where we completed a service event back in December. We saw that all of our projects—gym murals, mural benches, playground swing set, and rain garden—were still in great condition! The youth really utilized everything we had completed for them. Seeing the sustainability of our projects overwhelmed me with pride and joy.

Directly after visiting the Salvation army, we went straight to the airport. When we left Charleston, it was sunny and 68 degrees. In Boston the temperature was in the low 30s and it was beginning to snow. And even though I am not too fond of cold weather and snow, I know winter will soon be over, and with spring, Team Care Force will be blooming with service events and completing projects that will last for years to come. I can’t wait!

CSX Trees for Tracks volunteers in Charleston, SC.