FARMINGTON, Minn. (April 4, 2008) — Dakota Electric Association members and employees will join people from electric cooperatives around Minnesota who will work together at state parks, planting trees, brushing trails, building picnic shelters, removing exotic species and much more as part of Touchstone Energy Cooperatives’ project GreenTouch on May 3.
Dakota Electric Association members and employees will be volunteering at Ft. Snelling State Park from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Dakota Electric will provide lunch for volunteers. Dakota Electric is looking for volunteers and welcomes youth groups, scouting organizations or others looking for a service project. Deadline to register is April 25.
“Past GreenTouch days have been very successful and helped in the progress against non-native species,” Mark Cleveland of Ft. Snelling State Park said. “We appreciate all the help we have received from Dakota Electric members over the years.”
This year marks the ninth year of this ongoing commitment between the Touchstone Energy Cooperatives and Minnesota State Parks . In addition to volunteer time, the sponsorship also gives the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources $40,000 each year to help fund the State Park Guide and the Junior Park Naturalist program.
“During the past eight years, Touchstone Energy has organized about 4,600 volunteers to donate more than 16,400 hours in May to take care of Minnesota’s finest resources — their state parks,” said Courtland Nelson, director of Minnesota State Parks. “Everyone’s helping hand is much needed before the rush of Memorial Day,” he said.
There is room for only a limited number of volunteers. If you are interested in helping at this fun, family event, call Joe Miller at 651-463-6178 or email him at [email protected].
