With an increased need for investments to strengthen the Caribbean food security,
the Sandals Foundation galvanized the support of hundreds of its ambassadors and
Sandals and Beaches Resorts guests across eight islands to celebrate Earth Day, by
planting over 900 food-bearing trees in a single day. The large-scale tree planting
event formed part of the organisation Trees for Life& campaign and contributed to
the charitable arm's year-long mission of regional food security, which aims to
keep local produce in schools and communities.
Heidi Clarke, Executive Director of the Sandals Foundation, weighed in on the
importance of the Earth Day campaign.
“Sustainably increasing food and agricultural production is critical to ensuring the
presence of fresh local foods for our Caribbean families for years to come. The
‘Trees for Life’ campaign represents our continued pledge to environmental
protection as a company while empowering Caribbean communities with the tools
and natural resources to meet their nutritional needs.”
In Antigua, several fruit trees were planted at schools in the communities of Bolans
Village, All Saints Road, Saint John’s, and Cedar Grove Village, bolstering the
twin island’s foundation to strengthen food security for its citizens.
Sandals Pastry Chef Anthony Linor who was part of the volunteer team on the road
said, “The experience was very enjoyable and rewarding to all of the volunteers
and students involved. Seeing the students motivated to be a part of the seedlings
transfer process was very heart-warming, and I look forward to the follow-up visits
to the schools, to make sure the seedlings are growing and are being cared for by
the students. It was my first time being a part of the experience and it definitely
won’t be the last.”
Now, with more than 900 steps forward across Jamaica, Antigua, Curacao,
Barbados, Turks and Caicos Islands, The Bahamas, Saint Lucia, and Grenada, the
‘Trees for Life’ campaign builds on the tree planting milestones of years past. In
2021, the Sandals Foundation ambitiously pledged to plant 10,000 trees throughout
the Caribbean, not only quickly achieving that goal, but expanding on it by an
additional 10,000 trees in 2022. With this incredible start to the year through the
Earth Day ‘Trees for Life’ campaign, the philanthropic arm of Sandals Resorts
International is solidifying its mandate in strengthening food security in the
region.
