moreleaf.org

Forest ReLeaf frames trees as essential infrastructure for clean air, clean water, and wildlife habitat, and it argues those benefits extend to whole communities. The organization's answer to "why trees?" is not just aesthetic: it points to the air people breathe, the water they use, and the wildlife they value, then backs that up with a planting strategy and annual impact numbers. This is useful if you are deciding whether to support, volunteer with, or request trees from the group, or if you want a plain-language summary of how it justifies its work.

The benefits Forest ReLeaf names

The site's core statement is direct: "We need trees. For the air we breathe, the water we use, and the wildlife we love." It adds that trees "benefit the greater good in ways that most of us don't think of."

That gives three broad categories:

• Air — trees are tied to the air people breathe, a point echoed by a project founder on the site who cited asthma and air quality as her reason for planting.
• Water — trees are linked to the water communities use.
• Wildlife — trees support the wildlife people care about.

The framing matters because it treats trees as a shared public benefit rather than private landscaping. Forest ReLeaf says it works with community groups, individuals, municipal governments, under-resourced communities, and nonprofits to expand native tree growth across Missouri.

Planting strategy: right tree, right place

Forest ReLeaf is explicit that it does not "plant trees randomly." Its stated approach is to plan for "well-adapted, ecologically appropriate trees in the right places" to support "thriving, biodiverse forest systems" across urban and wild lands.

Two ideas are doing the work here:

1. Ecological appropriateness — species are chosen to fit the site rather than planted for convenience.
2. Placement — location is treated as a decision, not an afterthought, so trees can mature into functioning canopy.

This is the mechanism behind the benefits above. A tree that survives and fits its site delivers air, water, and habitat value over decades; a poorly matched planting does not. That is also why the organization emphasizes native tree growth and long-term stewardship rather than one-off planting events.

Measuring impact with annual numbers

Forest ReLeaf reports its work through yearly figures. For 2025, the site lists counters for:

The specific values appear as animated counters on the page. The categories themselves are the useful takeaway: the organization measures both scale (projects, trees, seedlings) and quality (species diversity, volunteer involvement), which matches its stated focus on biodiverse, well-planned canopy rather than raw tree counts alone.

What this means in practice

If you are evaluating Forest ReLeaf, the "why trees" argument connects directly to its programs:

• CommuniTree offers free trees for public and nonprofit projects — the community-benefit case is the eligibility logic.
• Priority ReLeaf focuses on growing trees "where they're needed most," which follows from the under-resourced-communities language.
• Treesilience aims to grow a resilient tree canopy by "leveling the planting field."
• Volunteer and Events let individuals contribute time, which shows up in the volunteer-hours metric.

The through-line is that trees are treated as a shared asset whose benefits — air, water, wildlife, and community well-being — justify coordinated, strategic planting rather than scattered efforts. For anyone deciding whether to get involved, that framing is the organization's answer to why the work matters and how it chooses where to plant.

Forest ReLeaf is a Missouri-focused nonprofit that plants trees and enriches communities. It works with community groups, individuals, municipal governments, under-resourced communities, and other nonprofits to expand native tree growth across Missouri's urban and wildlands. If you are looking for free trees for a public or nonprofit project, a place to volunteer, or a partner for community tree planting in Missouri, this is the organization to know.

What Forest ReLeaf does

The organization describes its approach as strategic rather than random: it plans for well-adapted, ecologically appropriate trees in the right places to support thriving, biodiverse forest systems. Its stated mission covers the air we breathe, the water we use, and the wildlife we love.

Its work is organized around several programs and focus areas:

Who it serves

Forest ReLeaf's stated service area is Missouri, with work spanning both urban and wildland settings. Its partner list is broad: community groups, individuals, municipal governments, under-resourced communities, and nonprofits. That mix matters if you are trying to figure out whether you qualify for a program — a neighborhood association, a city parks department, and a school group are all plausible partners, but the specific eligibility rules sit with each program.

Ways to get involved

• Need trees for a public or nonprofit project: Start with CommuniTree, which the site describes as offering free trees for public/nonprofit projects.
• Want to plant where it matters most: Look at Priority ReLeaf, focused on growing trees where they're needed most.
• Care about canopy equity: Treesilience frames its work as growing a resilient tree canopy by "leveling the planting field."
• Want to volunteer: The Volunteer page is the entry point for lending time and talents.
• Want to attend something: The Events section lists plantings and festivals, including the Persimmon Festival on October 17, 2026 at City Tree Farm, 2700 Samuel Shepard Dr, St. Louis, MO 63103.
• Want updates: The site offers a mailing list signup with email, name, and phone fields.

What the 2025 numbers show

Forest ReLeaf publishes annual impact figures. For 2025, the site lists counters for planting projects, seedlings potted, trees planted, species grown, and volunteer hours. The specific values are displayed as animated counters on the page, so check the live site for the current totals rather than relying on a static snapshot.

Why people work with them

The site collects quotes from partners and volunteers that hint at the organization's role. Matthew Knopf-Amelung, Senior Groundskeeper at Metropolitan Community College in Kansas City, describes trees as a keystone species that "humbles you." Stephen Bybee, a volunteer at Kiwanis Park in Columbia, MO, talks about the mystery and inspiration of long-standing trees. Kay La Banca, a Forest ReLeaf volunteer, points to the visible turnaround from spring to fall as rewarding. Dail Chambers, founder of Coahoma Orchards, says concerns about asthma and air quality led to planting trees as a response to the state of the city.

Bottom line

Forest ReLeaf is a Missouri tree-planting nonprofit that pairs free-tree programs for public and nonprofit projects with volunteer opportunities and targeted canopy work in under-resourced areas. If your project is in Missouri and serves the public good, CommuniTree is the natural first stop; if you want to give time rather than receive trees, the Volunteer page is the place to start.

Priority ReLeaf and Treesilience are two of Forest ReLeaf's targeted planting initiatives. Priority ReLeaf directs tree planting to the places that need canopy most, while Treesilience works to grow a resilient tree canopy by "leveling the planting field." Both sit alongside the organization's broader mission: working with community groups, individuals, municipal governments, under-resourced communities, and nonprofits to expand native tree growth across Missouri.

Priority ReLeaf: planting where trees are needed most

The program's own description is short and specific: "Forest ReLeaf is growing trees where they're needed most."

That framing matters because it distinguishes Priority ReLeaf from general tree giveaways or one-off plantings. The organization states it does not "plant trees randomly" but instead plans "for well-adapted, ecologically appropriate trees in the right places to support thriving, biodiverse forest systems across our urban and wildlands." Priority ReLeaf is the piece of that strategy aimed at the locations with the greatest need.

Who it's for

Based on Forest ReLeaf's stated partnerships, the beneficiaries of priority planting are:

• Under-resourced communities
• Community groups and individuals organizing locally
• Municipal governments
• Nonprofits

If your neighborhood, school, park, or community organization lacks canopy and you're trying to change that, Priority ReLeaf is the program category to look at first.

Treesilience: growing a resilient canopy by "leveling the planting field"

Treesilience is described as "Growing a resilient tree canopy by 'leveling the planting field.'"

The phrase "leveling the planting field" is the key idea. A resilient canopy isn't just about total tree count — it's about whether the places that historically received the least investment end up with the same access to trees and their benefits as better-resourced areas. Treesilience targets that imbalance directly.

Why resilience is the goal

Forest ReLeaf ties its planting to outcomes that go beyond aesthetics:

• Cleaner air and water
• Wildlife habitat
• Community benefits and ecosystem impact (the organization's "Why Trees?" theme)

A canopy that is resilient and biodiverse is better positioned to keep delivering those benefits over time. That's the logic connecting Treesilience's equity framing to its ecological framing.

How the two programs relate

They aren't competing programs so much as two angles on the same problem: one asks where planting should happen, the other asks who has been left out of it.

What this looks like in practice

Forest ReLeaf reports its work through annual figures. For 2025, the site tracks planting projects, seedlings potted, trees planted, species grown, and volunteer hours — the operational side of both programs.

The human side shows up in how participants describe the work. Dail Chambers, founder of Coahoma Orchards, said: "I was concerned about asthma and air quality in general, so planting trees was my response to the state of the City." Matthew Knopf-Amelung, senior groundskeeper at Metropolitan Community College in Kansas City, framed trees as a keystone species: "So many things rely on trees, including us."

Those comments reflect the same priorities the programs are built around — health, air quality, and the ecological role of trees in places that need them.

Where to go next

• If you have a public or nonprofit project that needs trees, Forest ReLeaf's CommuniTree program offers free trees for public and nonprofit projects — a separate track from Priority ReLeaf and Treesilience.
• If you want to contribute time, the Volunteer page is the entry point.
• If you want to see the work in person, Events lists upcoming gatherings, such as the Persimmon Festival on October 17, 2026, at City Tree Farm in St. Louis.
• If you want updates, the site offers a mailing list signup.

For the underlying mission and organizational background, see the overview of Forest ReLeaf (ForestKeepers Network).

CommuniTree is Forest ReLeaf's program that provides free trees for public and nonprofit planting projects. If you represent a municipality, school, park, community group, or nonprofit working on public land in Missouri, this is the pathway to request trees at no cost. The program is aimed at projects that expand the native tree canopy in community and public spaces rather than private residential yards.

Who CommuniTree Is For

Forest ReLeaf describes its work as partnering with "community groups, individuals, municipal governments, under-resourced communities and non-profits" to expand native tree growth across Missouri. CommuniTree specifically targets public and nonprofit projects.

Typical eligible applicants include:

• Municipal governments and public agencies
• Schools and campuses
• Parks and public green spaces
• Nonprofit organizations
• Community groups planting on public or community land

The key condition is that the planting serves a public or nonprofit purpose — not a private, for-profit landscape.

What the Program Provides

• Free trees for qualifying public and nonprofit projects
• Trees selected to be well-adapted and ecologically appropriate to the site
• A focus on native species that support biodiverse forest systems

Forest ReLeaf notes it does not "plant trees randomly" but plans "for well-adapted, ecologically appropriate trees in the right places." That means your project should have a clear planting site and purpose, not just a general request for trees.

How to Start the Process

1. Confirm your project qualifies. Your planting should be on public land or tied to a nonprofit/community purpose.
2. Identify your planting site and goal. Know where the trees will go and what community benefit they serve (shade, air quality, habitat, stormwater, etc.).
3. Visit the CommuniTree page on moreleaf.org. The homepage lists CommuniTree with a "Get FREE TREES for public/nonprofit projects" link and a "Learn More" button — that page carries the current application details and requirements.
4. Follow the application or contact instructions provided there. Program pages are the authoritative source for deadlines, forms, and current eligibility, since these can change.

What to Have Ready

Because Forest ReLeaf plans plantings strategically, a strong request typically includes:

• The organization or public entity you represent
• The specific planting location
• The intended community or ecosystem benefit
• Who will plant and maintain the trees

Related Programs Worth Knowing

Forest ReLeaf runs several connected efforts, and one of them may fit your situation better:

If your project is in an under-resourced area, Priority ReLeaf or Treesilience may also be relevant.

Common Questions

Does it cost anything? CommuniTree is described as providing free trees for qualifying public and nonprofit projects. Any costs beyond the trees themselves (planting, maintenance, site prep) are not addressed in the available information, so confirm with Forest ReLeaf.

Do I need to be in Missouri? Forest ReLeaf's stated mission covers native tree growth "across Missouri," so projects outside the state are unlikely to qualify.

Can I get trees for my own yard? CommuniTree is framed around public and nonprofit projects, not private residential planting.

Next Step

Go to moreleaf.org, open the CommuniTree section, and use its "Learn More" link to reach the current application or contact details. That page is where eligibility, timing, and submission specifics are kept up to date.

Forest ReLeaf (ForestKeepers Network) offers two direct ways to get involved: sign up to volunteer by lending your time and talents, or browse the Events page to find upcoming activities and register. Both entry points are on the homepage at moreleaf.org, and you can also join the mailing list to get notified about new events and volunteer needs. This guide covers what each option involves and how to use them.

Volunteer with Forest ReLeaf

The homepage's Volunteer section invites you to "Join Forest ReLeaf's team by lending your time and talents," with a Learn More link that leads to the volunteer page.

What the site tells you:

• Volunteering is framed around contributing time and talents — not just planting, but whatever skills you bring.
• Forest ReLeaf works with community groups, individuals, municipal governments, under-resourced communities, and nonprofits across Missouri, so volunteer work supports native tree growth in both urban and wildland settings.

To get started:

1. Go to moreleaf.org.
2. Find the Volunteer section on the homepage.
3. Select Learn More to reach the volunteer page.
4. Follow the instructions there to sign up or express interest.

The site does not publish specific volunteer roles, shift times, or age requirements on the homepage. Those details would appear on the volunteer page itself.

Attend an Event

The Events section lists upcoming activities with dates, locations, and a Find out more link for each.

Example listed on the site:

To find and register for events:

1. Go to the Events section on the homepage.
2. Review the listed events — each shows a date, name, and location.
3. Select Find out more on the event you want.
4. Use View All Events to see the full calendar beyond what's featured on the homepage.

Get Notified About Events and Volunteering

If you want updates without checking the site repeatedly, Forest ReLeaf offers a mailing list signup at the bottom of the homepage.

To join:

1. Scroll to the Connect by joining our mailing list section.
2. Enter your email, name, and phone.
3. Select Join Now.

This is the most reliable way to hear about new events and volunteer opportunities as they're posted.

Other Ways to Engage

Beyond volunteering and events, the homepage highlights several programs you can explore if your interest is in planting or community projects:

• CommuniTree — free trees for public and nonprofit projects.
• Priority ReLeaf — growing trees where they're needed most.
• Treesilience — building a resilient tree canopy by "leveling the planting field."
• Project Highlights and Why Trees? — background on the impact of the work.

These are separate from volunteering but often overlap with the same community and nonprofit partners.

What to Expect

Forest ReLeaf describes its approach as strategic: "well-adapted, ecologically appropriate trees in the right places to support thriving, biodiverse forest systems." Volunteers and event attendees are part of that effort. The site shares testimonials from volunteers and partners, including one volunteer who noted the reward of seeing "such a turnaround from spring to fall" and knowing the work makes a difference.

If you're unsure where to start, joining the mailing list is the lowest-commitment step, and the Volunteer and Events pages are the two places to act when you're ready.