Northport 10th Grader Helps Plant Trees at Ocean Avenue Elementary School

Lemon Aid, a nonprofit organization founded by 15-year-old Northport resident Sarah Connor, is helping to beautify the communty, with the gift of trees.

On Monday, Nov. 10, nine new maple trees were planted along the fence-line between Ocean Avenue Elementary School’s fields and Dogwood Avenue in Northport. Getting the trees planted was the project of a group of parents and students at the school, but a week earlier it had looked like they’d fall short of the $1,000 they needed to raise by November 7. With only about $500 pledged they placed flyers in mailboxes hoping to somehow raise the additional $500 in the next three days.

Lemon Aid stepped in to provide the remaining funds.

Connor, who started the organization when she was 8-years-old, is no stranger to planting trees. She’s used funds raised throughLemon Aid to plant 18 flowering cherry trees along Northport’s Main Street, replace another cherry tree that died at Ocean Avenue Elementary School, help tornado ravaged Joplin Mo and Moore OK replant trees, and assist Oceanside and Long Beach in their replanting after Superstorm Sandy.

Now she’s focusing on helping to plant street trees where needed in the Village of Northport.

“Trees are very important,” she said. “ They take carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, they anchor the soil, and their leaves provide mulch and fertilizer.”

“They’re nature’s way of keeping everything balanced,” she added. “ And studies have shown that people are happier and healthier in communities with lots of greenery. Whenever a tree comes down, we should definitely replace it.”

Connor began her venture with a lemonade stand in her front yard during the Cow Harbor and Memorial Day parades in Northport, and it have raised more than $15,000 for various charities.

“I was so happy to help plant the trees at my old elementary school,” she said. “Someday I’ll be able to bring my children back and show them nine tall trees that I helped make possible.”

In addition to lemonade, Connor sells handmade lemon soaps at her stand and is talking to local shopkeepers about carrying them in their stores as an additional fundraiser. More information about Lemon Aid and ways to help the environment is available at Connor’s website www.ProjectLemonAid.org.

“I think it’s important for people to know that they can make a difference in the world, no matter how small they think their action is,“ she said. “ It’s a simple as planting a tree.”