By By KATHIE HEMPEL / Niles Daily Star
"Trees are not that easy to plant so let's stop cutting them down," said Kara Smith as she leaned on her shovel. She and her friend Sherridon Lyons planted a crabapple and a pear tree in front of Ring Lardner Middle School in Niles on Monday.
The plantings were the culmination of a lot of planning and hard work by the eighth grade students and friend Cynthia Jackson, who missed out on the planting due to illness. Inspired by lessons on the survival of trees and other plant life due to increased CO2 due to greenhouse gases, the trio decided it was time for them to be proactive.
With the help of science teacher Tammy Mitchell, they organized a candy sale fundraising campaign called "Treats for Trees." In keeping with the green and growing theme, they took orders for green candies the week of St. Patrick's Day and after expenses raised approximately $150.
That was enough cash to purchase two good sized trees. The team chose the crabapple and pear tree for the springtime bonus of flowers they offered. They also bought a flowering plant for the school's arboretum with remaining funds.
Originally the planting had been scheduled for Earth Day however they were unable to meet on that date.
However, Monday's planting was extremely gratifying to both the girls and their proud mentor.
"They did it all themselves, right down to digging the holes and planting the trees," Mitchell said. "Even though sales were a little slow at first, soon the money began to roll in and this is the result."
The students not only got to do their part for the planet's ecology, they learned a few unexpected lessons too.
"The volunteering was fun. I didn't think I could sell anything, I thought I'd be too shy, but I did it and I'm glad I did," Lyons said.
"It's easy when you have a cause you are working for," Smith added.
Both girls said the value of volunteering could not be underestimated and they plan to continue their volunteer activities once they move on to Niles High School next year.