The City of Statesboro Tree Board hosted its annual "Planting the Future" Arbor Day Celebration on Friday, February 21, 2025, at the Statesboro Food Bank. This community-focused event brought people together to plant trees, raise awareness about their benefits, and support a local food drive.
“The Arbor Day Celebration is both hands-on and educational,” said Shawn Diddie, the Statesboro Tree Board chair. “The more people understand how amazing trees are, the more they will want to care for and protect them in their own yards and communities.”
This year’s event had a twofold mission: planting oak trees and collecting food donations to support the Statesboro Food Bank. As an incentive, each donated food item counted as an entry in a drawing for a free fruit tree, and donors also received a free tree seedling.
The event was a collaborative effort, with local Girl Scouts, Statesboro STEAM S.E.R.V.E.S., Georgia Forestry Commission, and Georgia Tree Council participating. Local Girl Scouts from Troop 30209, led by Katie Christmas, Whitney Lavoie, and Kristin Leonard, helped with setting up tables, collecting food, and planting trees, while two troop members shared insights on the importance of trees.
The Statesboro STEAM Charter School’s S.E.R.V.E.S. community service club, led by teacher Veronica Corbett, also played a key role, with two students speaking about what trees mean to them.
“Trees provide oxygen and shade, improve air quality by filtering pollutants, and offer food and shelter for wildlife,” Diddie explained. “Their roots help prevent erosion, reduce flooding, and even improve water quality near urban areas. These are just a few of the many benefits they provide.”
The Statesboro Tree Board hopes that events like "Planting the Future" will encourage the community to appreciate trees' vital role and inspire more tree-planting initiatives in the future.
