GIF Back with Trees Matter
TREES MATTER!
This April as a part of our GIF Back initiative to support Arizona nonprofits focused on sustainability and environmental action, MISGIF volunteered with Arizona nonprofit Trees Matter to distribute shade trees to community members in Tempe, Arizona and made a donation of $1,500 to support tree planting in the Greater Phoenix area.
WHAT DOES TREES MATTER DO?
Trees Matter is a Phoenix-based 501(c)(3) environmental education nonprofit whose mission is to inspire and promote an increased tree canopy in the Valley. Trees Matter offers many critical programs to community members that include distributing desert-adapted shade trees to Arizona residents, planting trees in public areas such as schools, and educating the public on the critical functions of trees, especially in a hot desert environment like Arizona.
WHY ARE TREES SO IMPORTANT?
Trees provide many critical functions such as shade, pollution reduction, dust reduction and food. Studies have also linked increased tree canopy to having a positive impact on mental health. For example, people living in cities like Phoenix have reported 30% less stress in areas that had increased tree canopy. Lastly, trees can help fight climate change “by removing carbon dioxide from the air, storing carbon in the trees and soil, and releasing oxygen into the atmosphere.”
HOW DO YOU GET INVOLVED?
One thing we loved about volunteering with Trees Matter is how easy and fun it was to do so! Signing up to volunteer online is a quick process and you can opt-in for their volunteer newsletter to have volunteer opportunities emailed straight to your inbox. Volunteer opportunities range from distributing shade trees to community members in partnership with SRP to planting trees with children at Arizona schools to helping with their Urban Food Forest Project.
Another easy way to support Trees Matter is to make a charitable donation that helps keep this awesome Arizona nonprofit operational.
THANK YOU TREES MATTER!
Big thank you to the Trees Matter team for the work they do in our community! We highly recommend considering supporting this Arizona environmental nonprofit and we hope to see you at one of their upcoming tree planting volunteer events soon!
If you are interested in volunteering with us at a Trees Matter event, be sure to sign up for our e-newsletter below where we will share upcoming opportunities!