SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Earthquakes continued their National Volunteer Week and Earth Day efforts while working with Our City Forest in San Jose on Thursday afternoon. Brad Ring and Steven Beitashour, two from the Shakers Squad and a pair from the Front Office spread mulch and prepared a plot of land for tree planting.
The group of Earthquakes prepared sapling oak trees and helped connect the corresponding irrigation system. The trees will later be planted elsewhere around the San Jose after reaching a mature age. The Earthquakes also got their hands dirty loading and spreading mulch over a weeded area to make it cultivatable. For the players, it was a fun chance to give back to the community while enjoying some extra exercise in the sun.
PHOTO GALLERY: Ring, Beitashour during Project Hug More Trees
“With Earth Week in full swing, I think it’s a great time for everyone to give back to the community,” Beitashour said. “Preserving our environment is important and our team is more than happy to get out here and do our part.”
Our City Forest is a local non-profit dedicated to involving the community in the planting and care of trees. The organization also offers youth programs, workshops, courses and more to help educate others on environmentalism and sustainability. Furthermore, Our City Forest provides volunteering opportunities for anyone interested in lending a hand to their cause.
The San Jose Earthquakes will host an Earth Day Celebration, presented by the County of Santa Clara Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Program, on Saturday, April 23 when they face Chivas USA at Buck Shaw Stadium at 1 p.m. PT. The first 10,000 fans in attendance will receive a reusable shopping bag, courtesy of the County of Santa Clara HHW Program. Additionally, the first 5,000 fans will receive an eco-tip guide courtesy of the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and flower seed packets will be distributed to the first 1,000 fans, courtesy of the America the Beautiful Fund. Also, select fans will receive a Chinook Book, a book featuring discount offers at local, sustainable and healthy businesses.
The Earthquakes have also teamed up with MLS W.O.R.K.S. to offset the carbon footprint for energy used at the stadium that night. The Renewable Energy Certificates—from 100 percent wind resources—purchased from Portland, Ore.-based Bonneville Environmental Foundation, will counterbalance 100 percent of the electricity used at Buck Shaw Stadium during the day of the game. The carbon dioxide reduction value is the equivalent of more than 6,989 pounds.
