The celebration of May Day dates back to the 2nd century AD and has evolved throughout time to its present-day celebrations which often include anonymous gestures of kindness directed to neighbors, family and friends.
The true spirit of May Day was celebrated this year by the Tomorrow’s Harvest Give & Grow HOPE foundation which partnered with the Magalia Pines Baptist Church to host a free fruit tree giveaway event.
On Friday, May 1, 2020 Tom Burchell and members of his Burchell Nursery team traveled to Paradise, California where they distributed over 3000 free fruit trees to residents who had been devastated by the Camp Fire in November of 2018.
The first fruit tree distribution for the Camp Fire victims took place in the Spring of 2019. Many residents were unable to accept the free trees at that time because their land had yet to be cleared of the debris from the fire. Tom pledged he would return and provide fruit trees for area residents to help them recover and to begin to re-grow their community one tree at a time.
Just as the promise of tomorrow inspires every gardener to look forward to harvest time, the Give & Grow HOPE tree gifting program is designed to inspire people to give hope to those who are looking for a better tomorrow.
Hundreds of area residents turned out to pickup the free fruit trees. Once planted these trees will help to re-establish the community and provide delicious fresh fruit to the families throughout the area for decades to come.
The Burchell Nursery was established in 1942 guided by a simple principle “Plant good trees on good land. Take care of them and they will take care of you.” That philosophy has inspired the company to also take care of those in the communities they serve by extending a helping hand to those in need.
Let’s never forget that helping our neighbors near or far in their time of need with a simple gesture or act of kindness is invaluable.
