Tree The Town Helps Replace Lost Trees

Sioux Falls, SD

Volunteers use Make A Difference Day to plant deep roots in the community devastated by an April ice storm that destroyed thousands of trees in Sioux Falls.

"It's wonderful, great. We need trees," resident Raymond Tieszen said.

KELO-TV joins other organizations around Sioux Falls as part of the Tree the Town event to help the people that lost their trees during the April ice storm.

"It was an idea that our general manager and the manager of the Argus Leader came up with. So we joined forces with the Helpline Center and we decided to plant about 500 trees," KELO-TV's Karen Floyd said.

Over 300 volunteers went to neighborhoods all across KELOLAND planting trees. The homes also received a hand-made birdhouse. Homeowners enjoyed seeing volunteers in their yards helping replace the lost trees.

"I'm glad the city came today with this wonderful program and planted a new tree for us. With back surgeries we're not able to dig so that was wonderful," Tree the Town recipient Raymond Tieszen said.

"Well I was a little surprised to see the KELO trucks at first. It's really cool that they're getting involved in it and being a part of our community, contributing to our community. It's a nice gesture," Tree the Town recipient Rod Ledeboer said.

The need for trees across the city was why this event made sense for public support.

"At KELO-TV we believe in being part of the community, and this was just one way for us to help out our neighbor and out viewers once again," Floyd said.

No matter who helped them, the people of KELOLAND are thankful for the volunteers who helped make their yards whole again.

"They're just very grateful for the opportunity to have trees planted for them again," Floyd said.

It was a group effort from many organizations today to make this event happen.

Organizations involved in the Tree the Town Event include: KELO-TV, Sioux Empire United Way, Nyberg's Ace, Argus Leader Media, Lewis Drug, Cliff Avenue Greenhouse, Landscape Garden Center, The Washington Pavilion. 

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