Submitted Photo Revitalize Dunkirk members prepare a new raised bed garden on Route 5 at the west city limits.

A recent donation of Troy-Bilt gardening tools obtained by Revitalize Dunkirk through Planet In Action’s “Do It America” community activation and improvement program is enhancing the nonprofit organization’s local beautification efforts.

Of several gardening equipment packages offered, Revitalize Dunkirk chose the “Plant For Success” hand tool option consisting of ten premium planting trowels and two each of long-handled hoes, bow rakes, and transfer shovels. Volunteers utilized the tools in the “Adopt-A-Garden” project developed this year in cooperation with Dunkirk city officials. The tools will be useful for a variety of other civic gardening efforts, as well.

Troy-Bilt, the official Outdoor Power Equipment Sponsor of Planet In Action and its “Do It America” series of activities, has made it possible for Revitalize Dunkirk and community service organizations like it in 12 U.S. states (Arizona, California, Colorado, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Texas) to select from four award packages to help them in their lawn care, gardening and clean-up activities.

In addition to the Adopt-a-Garden work this year in which volunteers planted and/or maintained 10 flower and shrub beds on city-owned property, Revitalize Dunkirk members create and care for street-corner pocket gardens, perform necessary work at DHS’s Bicentennial Park, and sometimes assist Chautauqua County Master Gardeners with flower bed maintenance at the county fairgrounds.

“For these gardening activities, most volunteers provide their own equipment and usually bring enough to share, if necessary. The Troy-Bilt tool donation through Planet in Action will make it easier for us to include other volunteers, especially youth, who may be interested in joining one of our many civic gardening projects, but who lack their own tools,” explains Mary Rees, Beautification Committee Chair of Revitalize Dunkirk.

In 2018, over one million volunteers are working together to make their communities cleaner, healthier and safer with the support of Planet In Action and its sponsors and partners. “Our Community Partners rally volunteers to focus on their local ‘green bucket list’ and address the unmet community improvement needs of their local neighborhoods,” said Planet In Action CEO and Chief Mission Leader Gail Cunningham.

Aside from green-up and beautification, many other important activities are taking place across America, and in other countries such as Northern Ireland, Costa Rica and Canada as part of Planet In Action’s programs, including cleaning up waterways and shorelines, refurbishing public playgrounds, abating graffiti, conducting recycling activities, hosting litter-free events, clearing illegal dumpsites, and holding educational workshops.

Planet In Action is a private, nonprofit, designed to complement and support the ongoing work of community improvement organizations and other service organizations, both in the US and other selected international locations. Its mission is to help improve and sustain the planet community-by-community, by utilizing local activation, essential tools and high technology to catalyze, excite and intensify the activities of volunteers worldwide to achieve measurable local impact. For more information, visit www.planetinaction.org.

In 1937, Troy-Bilt introduced the first American-made rototiller and since then has expanded its legendary expertise and durable product line to create a complete selection of the industry’s finest lawn and garden tools. The company’s award-winning product line includes top-quality tractors, mowers, tillers, cultivators, trimmers, snow throwers and other outdoor power tools. Headquartered in Valley City, Ohio, and with multiple manufacturing locations across the country, including Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee and Mississippi, Troy-Bilt is committed to the communities it’s a part of and keeping America working as hard as it can. For more information, visit troybilt.com.

Revitalize Dunkirk, Inc., is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit committed to advocating ideas for improved urban living to residents and elected officials of the City of Dunkirk in order to preserve the historic heritage, enhance the physical infrastructure, reinvigorate commerce, and boost community pride and vision.

For more information visit: www.revitalizedunkirk.com.