Keep America Beautiful to Replant Trees in Tornado-Damaged Pottawatomie County Neighborhoods
Affected Homeowners Can Register to Receive Free Trees and Services as Part of the Pottawatomie County RETREET Initiative
Pottawatomie County, OK – Keep America Beautiful®, in partnership with Keep Oklahoma Beautiful, Pottawatomie Go (Pogo), and United Way of Eastern Frontier Country, invites Shawnee, OK residents impacted by the April 2023 tornado to register for the Pottawatomie County RETREET initiative. Eligible homeowners can receive up to two large native trees at no cost to replace those lost during the storm, in addition to tree risk assessments, debris removal, and expert advice on long-term tree care.
“At Keep America Beautiful, we understand the power of trees and the impact they have on the overall health and well-being of a community,” said Jerí Irby, Keep America Beautiful RETREET Manager. “Losing trees in a disaster of this scale is devastating and replanting them is a crucial part of the recovery process. It’s not only about restoring the landscape—it’s about restoring hope for those who have been through so much.”
“Replanting trees is more than restoring the natural beauty of our community—it’s about healing and strengthening the core of our neighborhoods”, said John Bobb-Semple, Pottawatomie Go Executive Director. “This initiative is vital to improving our built environment and fostering a sense of new beginnings, but it requires all of us to come together and make it happen.”
The Pottawatomie County RETREET initiative will begin with home site assessments and debris removal throughout the winter, ensuring properties are ready for tree planting. In March 2025, volunteers and staff aim to plant 175 to 200 large (8’-10’ tall) native trees in Pottawatomie County neighborhoods, followed by a community celebration of renewal and resilience, with food, music, and local activities.
All owners of impacted properties can complete their tree requests online now; visit https://kab.org/our-signature-programs/retreet/ . United Way of Eastern Frontier Country (formerly United Way of Pottawatomie County) is accepting local donations to fund this initiative. To donate online, visit www.gopogo.org/retreet and click “Donate”. To donate by mail, make checks payable to United Way of Eastern Frontier Country and send to PO Box 697, Shawnee, OK 74802 with the memo line: RETREET.
RETREET, a signature program of Keep America Beautiful, is the only program of its kind dedicated to post-disaster tree planting. Over the past decade, it has helped restore more than 7,000 trees for communities across the country as they recover from natural disasters.
This tree planting event is made possible through generous support from the lead funder, Pottawatomie County Board of County Commissioners, along with Oklahoma Baptist University, Oklahoma State University Extension Office of Pottawatomie County, Shawnee Feed and Garden Center, United Way of Eastern Frontier Country, Citizen Potawatomi Nation, and the Pottawatomie Go Built Environment Committee.
About Keep America Beautiful®:
Keep America Beautiful, the nation’s leading community improvement nonprofit organization, inspires and educates people to take action every day to improve and beautify their community environment. Established in 1953, Keep America Beautiful strives to end littering, improve recycling, and beautify America’s communities. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Donate and take action at kab.org.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
McCall Vrydaghs
Keep America Beautiful®