Story of the Week: Lions Tree Planting Campaign Supports National Arbor Day

Most of the United States celebrates National Arbor Day on the last Friday in April as a way to increase the number of trees in our communities. This year, Lions and Leos advanced this effort by planting more than 8 million trees to date.

Our Million Tree Planting Campaign, which continues through this summer, coupled with this month’s Environmental Global Service Action Campaign, give Lions and Leos the chance to improve neighborhoods and the world. Trees play an important role in our communities by beautifying our streets, improving our air quality and providing homes for indigenous animals.

In disaster-torn areas, trees also represent a return to normalcy. In Joplin, Missouri, an area ravaged by an EF-5 tornado on May 22, 2011, trees planted by the Joplin Host Lions Club helped rebuild the city landscape. Lions hosted a two-day “Gift of Growth” celebration, attracting more than 100 Lions from Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and Missouri and planting 200 trees.