Hurricanes Helene and Milton did far more than damage homes and businesses. The storms also ravaged other things. For instance, the grassroots organization, Take MAR, is on a mission to restore greenery to Bay Area communities by replanting trees lost to the storms.

Take MAR President Tara Hubbard says their efforts have been ongoing for months, with significant progress near St. Pete’s Warehouse Arts District.

“Right now, we’re on the Pinellas Trail,” Hubbard shared. “This is a beautiful, linear green space in our county, and we’ve activated it by planting over 300 trees here.”

This is just one of many areas where Hubbard and her team of dedicated volunteers are working to make a difference in Tampa Bay.

“Trees cool our environment, create better air quality, and provide countless other benefits for both our surroundings and our communities,” said Hubbard. “The impacts of trees go beyond the environment—they enhance our quality of life.”

Over the past two years, Take MAR has planted 500 trees across the Tampa Bay area, and their work is far from over.

“We love engaging the community in these initiatives,” Hubbard said. “Planting trees together fosters a connection to nature and inspires more people to become environmental stewards.”

Their next major project is an ambitious tree-planting event at the Lower Green Swamp Preserve in Hillsborough County. The goal? To plant 1,000 trees and 500 plants in a single day.

“The storms had a significant impact on our tree canopy,” Hubbard explained. “Some estimates suggest we lost as much as 20% of the canopy, which is devastating. St. Petersburg and the Tampa Bay area had set goals to expand the tree canopy, and these hurricanes created a major setback.”

Take MAR’s efforts have not gone unnoticed. The organization received the prestigious Urban Forestry Award last year, a recognition of their impactful work in restoring greenery.

“We truly believe in the power of trees,” Hubbard said. “They’re not just beautiful; they’re essential for our environment and our future.”

To learn more about Take MAR and participate in their upcoming events, visit: https://www.takemar.org/

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(Image credit: TAKE Mar)