Keep America Beautiful®, in partnership with Keep Oklahoma Beautiful, Pottawatomie Go (Pogo), and United Way of Eastern Frontier Country, is seeking volunteers for the Pottawatomie County RETREET initiative on March 8th. The effort will involve planting up to 200 large native trees to help restore the area’s beauty and resilience following the April 2023 tornado.
“This effort is about more than just planting trees—it’s about restoring hope, rebuilding our community, and coming together to create a more vibrant future for Pottawatomie County,” said John Bobb-Semple, director of Pottawatomie Go. “Every volunteer plays a vital role in making this possible, and their dedication will leave a lasting impact on the residents affected by the April 19 tornado.”
On March 8th at 9am, volunteers will gather along the Oval of Oklahoma Baptist University before heading to homesites to plant trees. They will receive expert guidance on planting techniques and work with a RETREET leader to ensure the trees are planted correctly.
Afterward, volunteers and residents will be invited to a community celebration to honor the renewal and resilience of Pottawatomie County. The celebration will feature food, music, and local activities, providing an opportunity for everyone to come together and celebrate the collective effort to restore the area.
To sign up as a volunteer and learn more about how you can participate in the tree planting event, visit kab.org/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, City of Shawnee, Citizen Potawatomi Nation, OG&E, The Home Depot Foundation, and the Pottawatomie Go Built Environment Committee.
