RETREET Restores Greenery and Hope to Orange County, TX with 145 Tree Plantings
RETREET ® volunteers, residents, and partners join forces to provide disaster relief to Orange County, TX.
(Orange County, TX) – In a display of resilience and community, the RETREET® Program of Keep America Beautiful® (KAB), supported by donors, local affiliates Keep Orange County Beautiful and Keep Texas Beautiful, and community partners, joined forces to bring life back into Orange County, TX. No stranger to destructive weather events, including regular hurricanes and tornadoes, this community in southeastern Texas has endured extensive tree loss exceeding thousands in number. To provide disaster relief by replanting some of these trees, Orange County RETREET was created.
“One of the reasons we liked the house when we bought it was because of all the trees,” said Orange County resident Lisa Owers. “We’ve probably lost 15 or more since Hurricane Rita in 2005.” After learning that RETREET was coming to town and would plant two trees, a Southern Live Oak and an Eastern Redbud, on her property free of charge, Lisa and her mother, Patsy, said they were “tickled to death.”
Lisa and Patsy Owers pose with one of their newly planted trees by the RETREET® volunteers.
On Saturday, November 4th, 2023, KAB led a group of volunteers, some of whom traveled to Orange from all over the country, and partners in planting 145 trees (7ft-9ft tall), free of charge, at the homes of families in Orange, Orangefield, Mauriceville, Little Cypress, Pinehurst, Bridge City, and Vidor as part of Orange County RETREET and in celebration of Texas Arbor Day. A total of 105 individuals from diverse backgrounds volunteered their time to contribute to the rejuvenation of Orange County, participating in site preparation, tree and mulch delivery, and planting day.
The newly-planted trees will stand as symbols of hope, reestablishing the environmental identity of Orange County, TX. They will offer shade, promote energy conservation, and bring a host of environmental, economic, and psychological benefits to residents, while also creating habitat for wildlife. This planting represents a significant investment that will establish a legacy for generations to come.
“Orange County RETREET addressed an often-overlooked part of the recovery process. Trees are destroyed alongside infrastructure and housing in every natural disaster,” said Grady McGahan, Senior Director of Green Strategies & Community Development at KAB.
“Planting new trees brings life back to an area and produces an immense psychological impact by making unfamiliar, decimated landscapes feel like home again.”
To conclude tree planting day, volunteers, donors, affiliates, partners, and residents of Orange County gathered at the Shahan Center at Lamar State College Orange for an evening of celebration and reflection. Guests shared stories of loss and appreciation, as well as a sense of rejuvenation. Texas country singer-songwriter Patrick B. Ray took the stage at the celebratory banquet, serenading the audience and amplifying the sense of togetherness. It was a night marked not only by music and merriment but also by shared victories and the promise of a brighter future.
>>Click HERE to learn more about the RETREET program.
Orange County RETREET® volunteers join together for a group photo.
This unique tree planting event was made possible through generous contributions from Dow Chemical, Chevron Phillips, Lamar State College Orange, and Solvay, with operational support from Keep Orange County Beautiful, Keep Texas Beautiful, Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center funded by The Stark Foundation, Orange County Disaster Rebuild, Texas A&M Forest Service, Orange County Road and Bridge Department, City of Orange Parks Department, and City of Bridge City Public Works.
← RETREET Celebrates Successful Completion of the Miami Valley TREEcovery Campaign
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. We believe everyone has a right to live in a clean, green, and beautiful community, and shares a responsibility to contribute to that vision. The organization is driven by the work and passion of 700 Keep America Beautiful® affiliates, millions of volunteers, and the collaborative support of corporate partners, social and civic service organizations, academia, municipalities, elected officials, and individuals. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Linkedin, and YouTube. Donate and take action at kab.org.
About RETREET®:
RETREET is a flagship program of KAB that redefines disaster relief by engaging communities to replant lost trees. To date, the program has brought 7,106 trees to thousands of families recovering from natural disasters in communities across North America. There is no other agency focused on this unique, important, and underrepresented part of the recovery process. As such, the RETREET program has become the national standard in this work.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
McCall Vrydaghs
Keep America Beautiful®