The community of Blumenort has a few more trees thanks to a volunteer group from Winnipeg. 

Sumeet Sharma is with Green S Welfare Force. He says on August 7th they planted 15 trees throughout the community. 

Sharma explains they are a non-profit group, whose parent organization, based in India, was founded back in 1948. Their leader has inspired them towards humanitarian and public welfare efforts. This work includes tree plantation, blood donations, food donations to the underprivileged and meditation camps. Sharma says they have more than 400 branches around the world and are engaged in community efforts based on the needs of that particular community.

When it comes to tree planting, Sharma says that is something they only started doing in 2018. Then, when the pandemic hit, they paused their efforts due to restrictions. However, this year they made an effort to restart that area of their volunteer work.

According to Sharma, they got in touch with the Chief Administrative Officer for the RM of Hanover about doing some tree planting in the municipality. Sharma says Luc Lahaie then connected them with the Local Urban District committee of Blumenort. He notes they were fortunate enough to work with Floyd Penner who helped decide which trees to purchase and where to plant them. 

"Our proposal to them was we will buy and plant those trees for free and they can just let us know where to plant those trees and what kind of trees they would need," he says. 

On August 7th, approximately 65 volunteers from their group participated in the tree planting efforts. Sharma says most of the trees they planted were Green Ash, but their list also included Sugarberry, Courageous and Ming Cherry trees. He notes the trees they planted were all already seven to nine feet tall.

"The reason we chose larger trees because they are easier, they can survive better in harsh weather and the need for watering is less compared to the smaller trees," explains Sharma. "That's what was suggested to us by the nursery that we bought it from and from the Local Urban District of Blumenort."

Volunteers planting trees in Blumenort

Now that the trees are planted, Sharma says the LUD of Blumenort committee accepts the responsibility of watering and performing any other maintenance. 

According to Sharma, the total cost of trees and tool rentals for that day was about $2,100. He notes this cost is covered entirely by his volunteer group from Winnipeg. Sharma explains that they are taught to donate a portion of their earnings towards community service. He says selfless service creates positivity in a community as it encourages others to do the same. 

"Pure service is to work towards the welfare of our community without the expectation of reward," he says. "So that's what we follow and that's what we actually do."

Sharma adds the response from the community was very positive on tree planting day. 

"They were excited to see the volunteers planting the trees," he notes. 

Not only that, but Sharma says residents were also pleased with where the trees were going. He notes that is part of the purpose of their efforts, to not just plant trees for the sake of planting, but for those trees to have some benefit to the community.

Meanwhile, Green S Welfare Force is always looking for ways to give of their time. Harpreet Brar says they also help with blood donations, noting that their parent organization actually holds the Guinness record for the largest donation in one day, with 43,732 units on August 8, 2010, in India. 

Sukhpreet Lotey says they also help with meditation workshops, which assist those struggling with anxiety or negative thoughts.

To reach this group, call 1-204-294-3940 or 1-204-930-2909.

 

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