National Volunteer Appreciation Week

Casey Trees is pleased to celebrate National Volunteer Appreciation Week by profiling members of its Citizen Forester Volunteer Corps. All week we will be running print ads in various publications and profiling them on our blog to say thank you for everything they do. Today we salute Yousef Master and Sara Carr.

Yousef Master and Sara Carr found Casey Trees through Sara’s former colleague at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, long-time Citizen Forester Gregg Serenbetz. Now Citizen Foresters themselves, they are contributing to the next generation of CFs. Their son, Xavier, made his first cameo appearance at the final planting of the 2010 winter season at the Metropolitan Branch Trail event and has become a spring regular.

“We wanted something environmental,” Yousef says. The physical work feels good. “It’s a good way to start the weekend — We don’t sleep in anymore with this guy — And we’re usually done by noon.”

Another benefit: “It’s really cool to see parts of the city, from far Northwest to Anacostia, plus cool places like Tudor Place.”

Consider volunteering yourself. Our spring 2011 Community Tree Planting season runs until May 7.