Amidst historic drought, many of our city trees have been left thirsty. Without thriving trees, residents suffer from more extreme heat, increased air pollution and serious health implications.

Because of this, TreePeople has stepped up to care for our urban forest. For instance, this summer we hosted a series of four tree care events in the Northeast Valley—inviting nearly 200 volunteers to care for seven miles of trees! Our work began near the Hansen Dam Golf Course in Pacoima, and continued well into Sun Valley. All in all, 180 trees were provided care!

This was no easy task, either. Volunteers remained committed to the cause, despite the extreme weather.

Volunteers from Pacoima Beautiful and Sun Valley Graffiti Busters also helped support the events.

“I want to be a conduit for organizations to come together,” said TreePeople’s Regional Manager of the Northeast Valley, Pam Gibson. “That’s the important thing—to work as partners.”

Gibson was especially impressed by the Graffiti Busters group, which is operated under the Sun Valley Chamber of Commerce, and allows residents to serve in the community in lieu of fines. It was the first partnership of its kind. “Their enthusiasm made the entire event worthwhile,” she said.

Events like this are made possible thanks to the contributions of our corporate sponsors, like Edison. Without such generosity, many trees would have gone thirsty this summer! We’re thankful to see them thrive—even in the extreme heat!

Want to care for trees in your neighborhood? Find all the resources you need to get started at our website.