DNR PARTNERSHIP HELPS LOCAL VOLUNTEERS:

LANSING--Department of Natural Resources officials today
announced a $5,000 grant from Home Depot that will help
establish tool banks in 10 Michigan counties to assist
volunteers who are involved with local community forestry
and cleanup projects.
The initiative is a partnership among the DNR, the Michigan
Association of Conservation Districts and Home Depot, which
will warehouse the tools and make them available for a
nominal deposit to volunteers working on community projects.
The participating Conservation Districts include Clare,
Crawford-Roscommon, Gladwin, Ingham, Manistee, Marquette,
Montmorency, Ogemaw and Ottawa counties.
"Community service is a part of Home Depot's mission. When
these projects involve planting trees or keeping public
lands clean, they support the DNR mission and a partnership
under this agreement makes good sense," said Mindy Koch,
Forest, Mineral and Fire Management Division Chief.
The basic tool bank for each county will include shovels,
rakes, planting dibbles, wheelbarrows and pitchforks. The
bank also will have other tools on hand based on past
volunteer projects in the area.
"We're hoping this pilot project will be so successful that
we'll be able to provide tool banks in every county within
the next few years," said Marilyn Shy, Executive Director of
the MACD.
For more information, contact the local Conservation
District listed above or Ada Takacs, DNR Forest, Mineral and
Fire Management Division, at 989-275-5151 ext. 2049.

Source: MDNR