BENNETTSVILLE — Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Upsilon Sigma Omega Chapter of Bennettsville, South Carolina, is proud to partner once again with the Neighborhood Forest Program to promote environmental stewardship and community beautification through a Free Tree Distribution in honor of Earth Day.
This initiative provides families with the opportunity to receive a free sapling for their child, encouraging hands-on environmental education and a lifelong appreciation for nature. By participating, families help support a greener, healthier future for the City of Bennettsville and surrounding communities.
How a small seed grew into a movement
Neighborhood Forest began with a simple mission: To give every child the joy of planting and watching their very own tree grow.
The seed for this mission was planted back in the early 1990s, when Vikas Narula was a college student at Maharishi International University in Fairfield, Iowa. There, he was introduced to a free tree project created by David Kidd of Ohio. Inspired, Vikas and his friends adopted the project and gave away tens of thousands of trees to schoolchildren across southeast Iowa.
After college, Vikas moved to Minneapolis and met his wife, Priya, shortly thereafter. Years later, as their oldest son prepared to start kindergarten — they felt called to rekindle that early love of giving trees to kids.
What started with four schools in Minneapolis, in 2010, has grown to over 3,500 schools, libraries, and youth groups spanning all 50 states and seven Canadian provinces. They have also successfully conducted pilots in Mexico, Ghana, Haiti, and Uganda.
Today, Neighborhood Forest continues to inspire children to plant trees, care for nature, and help create greener, healthier neighborhoods.
Parents and guardians are invited to register in advance to receive a free tree. Registration is required and can be completed online at www.neighborhoodforest.org/registration-services/?school=114059
Participants may also register by scanning the QR code.
Community members are encouraged to stay tuned for additional details regarding tree pickup and planting activities within the city. More information will be shared as the event approaches.
Together, we are growing a stronger, greener community — one tree at a time.
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