Lend a Hand - Raking for Our Friends!

October 4, 2004 - Everyone loves street trees but, as many of our residents grow a little older or infirm, the once highly regarded woody sentinels offering shade in summer and blossoms in spring, can mean more work than some seniors can handle. Enter the Vancouver Park Board and our Street Trees Division.

Every year when the first autumn snap sends leaves floating to the ground, the Park Board office receives a number of calls from once enthusiastic boulevard rakers, who for one reason or another, are unable to sweep their leaves. About a decade ago, staff realized that many concerns about trees had more to do with this frustration than the actual trees themselves.

Street Tree staff in partnership with local Girl Guides and Scout groups devised a plan to put resident in touch with potential raker, putting right an annual challenge. This arrangement has worked well over the years helping the guides and scouts complete their volunteering requirements while putting at ease many a grateful resident.

Besides, the volunteers have learned more often than not, that lending a hand in the raking department can lead to many a glass of lemonade and dozens of cookies!

For more information about this program please call Street Trees at 604-257-8587.

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