BTF News

Valero Benicia Refinery's Local Charitable Giving Program targeted the Benicia Tree Foundation for the first time with a $1,500 donation.

"We are grateful not only for this donation, but also for the many volunteer hours contributed by employees of the Valero Benicia Refinery through their participation in our Tree Care Days", said Benicia Tree Foundation President, Alison Fleck.  "Valero's support is vital to continuing our efforts to build community through tree planting, education and maintenance in Benicia."

On most second Saturdays of the month, the Benicia Tree Foundation sponsors Tree Care Days from 9 AM to Noon at one of our project sites to check on the trees we have planted and give them a little TLC.  In January and February, Tree Care Days were held at the Lake Herman Open Space, one of our largest project sites with 100 trees.  In March, the Tree Care Day was held at Joe Henderson Elementary School. 

The first 3rd Thursday in 2018 was celebrated at Benicia Tree Foundation's Lake Herman Open Space project site.  About a dozen volunteers from Benicia's Valero refinery participated.  Last year they helped us start replacing the tree cages around the tree saplings planted in the open space to protect them from the voles that invaded the area after last winter's rains.  The voles can penetrate the existing chickenwire cages.

Ten volunteers responded to our Second Saturday Tree Care Day at Benicia Tree Foundation's Lake Herman Open Space project site.  About 18 trees were refitted with new cages to keep out the voles.  There are about 30 trees left to retrofit.

Last month the Benicia Tree Foundation received a grant from the Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment.  The grant was from their Environmental Grassroots Fund and will support BTF operations.  "This grant provides a huge boost to our efforts for 2018," said BTF President Alison Fleck.  "We are also grateful to the letters of support provided by Mayor Elizabeth Patterson, the Benicia Unified School District, and the Benicia Housing Authority."