DNR PARTNERSHIPS HELP VOLUNTEERS

LANSING--Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) officials today announced a $5000 materials grant received from Home Depot. The Michigan Association of Conservation Districts has partnered with the MDNR and Home Depot and agreed to house the tool banks and make them available for a nominal deposit to volunteers working on community projects.

The participating Conservation Districts include: Clare, Crawford-Roscommon, Gladwin, Ingham, Manistee, Marquette, Montmorency, Oakland, Ogemaw, and Ottawa.

Each of these counties have a minimum tool bank of shovels, rakes, planting dibbles, wheelbarrows, and pitchforks. They also have various other tools based on past volunteer projects in their areas.

"Many community service projects, such as tree planting and keeping public lands clean, fit the Home Depot's mission as well as the Michigan Department of Natural Resources'; so this partnership made sense," said Mindy Koch, Forest, Mineral & Fire Management Division Chief.

"We're hoping this pilot project will be so successful that we'll be able to provide tool banks in every county within the next few years," advised Marilyn Shy, Executive Director of the MACD.

For more information contact the local Conservation District listed above or Ada Takacs, of the MDNR Forest, Mineral and Fire Management Division, 8717 North Roscommon Road, Roscommon, MI 48653 at 989-275-5151, Extension 2049.