Parish Green Teams receive state environmental award for tree planting initiative
The Green Teams of St. Aloysius Parish, Notre Dame Parish, and Congregation Agudath Israel received the Non-Profit Environmental Achievement Collaboration Award from the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions for their initiative in planting 13 native trees throughout the community. The honor was awarded to the houses of worship, all located in Caldwell, on Dec. 6.
The award was garnered for the Native Tree Project Initiative developed by the Caldwell Environmental Commission to encourage people to plant native trees to combat climate change and help stem the decline of pollinators. The commission reached out to houses of worship that belong to the West Essex Ministerial Association to promote the project. Notre Dame, St. Aloysius, and Congregation Agudath Israel signed up to participate.
Each house of worship received three native redbud trees, donated by The Kiwanis Club of Caldwell/West Caldwell, and parishioners/congregants were encouraged to enter their name in the drawing held May 2.
An additional tree was provided for the community to enjoy, and St. Aloysius was chosen as the most visible spot to plant it.
Those who entered the drawing along with members of the congregations, local environmental clubs, youth groups and scouting troops were invited to the community tree planting event at St. Aloysius on May 20. At this event attendees were given a chance to win three more trees and the drawing resulted in a total 13 trees being planted – eight in Caldwell, two in West Caldwell, one in Little Falls, and two in Montville. Bartlett Tree Service, which planted the tree at St. Aloysius, provided an educational experience on the value of native trees and how to properly plant a tree to those who attended the tree planting.
The West Essex Ministerial Association was founded in the 1980s and includes many houses of worship. Recent activities include ecumenical prayer services, ensuring shut-ins have groceries during the COVID-19 pandemic, and coordinating a Laudato Si’ study group in the fall of 2021.
Edna Lord is a member of the Archdiocese of Newark Environmental Justice Task Force.
Featured image: Receiving the award from the left are: Marianne Autorino, St. Aloysius Parish; Sheila Fant, Notre Dame Parish; Mark Lipsy, Congregation Agudath Israel; and Jessica Almeida, Kiwanis of Caldwell.
