Ask yourself, who enjoys getting their hands dirty and wants to get involved in building plant kits for kids living in apartments. Whether it’s your neighborhood friends, school friends, teammates, or siblings, get a couple of trusted helpers to get your project rolling and it’s only a matter of time before the momentum begins to grow.

Here are some suggestions for finding some team members:

• Get tech-savvy and safely use social media to find teammates. Your parents may be able to offer their platform to share your message!

• Create a fun e-invite to send to your friends and customize it using your own creativity (Use Canva for Free!)

• Write out some chalk invites on the sidewalk.

• Identify that neighbor who knows everyone and make a beeline for them!

Use our resources to learn more about succulents, how to care for them, and their benefits.

Do your own research (at the library and / or online) about the benefits of indoor plants and succulents – how are they similar / different from outdoor trees?

Is there a relationship between social justice issues and the environment?  What does the term "environmental justice" mean?

Learn about the value and importance of urban and residential tree canopies.  Discover the online tree canopy map – what does it tell us about environmental justice and equality? Look up your own neighborhood - does anything suprise you?

How does Neighborhood Forest, and this project, contribute to greater environmental equality?

Get in touch with your local library by searching for them online and sending them an email or giving them a phone call to inquire about your project. 

TIP: Ask to connect with the Youth Service Librarian!

Tell them that you and your friends are part of a youth-led Neighborhood Forest / ChangeX project.  You are getting together to build 25 succulent plant kits to give away for free to kids who live in apartments or do not have access to a yard to plant their very own tree. You are reaching out to the library because you want them to help you find kids and families that may want to sign up and you want them to host the free plant giveaway on a mutually desired day of the week.  Maybe time the event with an environmentally-themed holiday or celebration:

Earth Day: April 22

Neighborhood Forest Day: April 26th

Arbor Day: the last Friday in April

World Environment Day: June 5th

The Library can help you advertise the event to local community members, help sign up parents and kids to receive their free plant, and create space for the giveaway day.  Libraries are also a great place to pair the giveaway with other educational enrichment opportunities and activities such as book readings, lessons, or games.

Neighborhood Forest will send you all the necessary materials (including plants) for your kit-building activity with friends. Pick a date and location, request your materials, and invite your friends.  We will ship all materials ahead of your kit-build date.  We will provide detailed instructions, photos, and guides to help you build your kits and prepare them for distribution at your local library.

Once you have contacted and coordinated a free plant giveaway at your local library – that is, you have received 25 sign-ups and advertised the giveaway date / location in partnership with your local library, you are ready to give away your plants to kids most in need.

Have fun, bask in the joy of generosity, and please share photos of the happy kids receiving their free succulents!