Trees for Houston teams up with Boy Scouts of America on beautification project Benefiting Nora’s Home

Houston (TX) – Springtime brings an added sense of serenity and wonder while enjoying the outdoors. This is especially true while walking the healing garden found at Nora’s Home, Houston’s haven for organ transplant patients and their families. Located just two miles from the Texas Medical Center, guests at Nora’s Home enjoy the welcomed peace and quiet surroundings while recovering along their solid organ transplant journey. There seemed to be just one thing missing from the garden…a little privacy from the neighboring warehouses.

Upon a site visit from well-known arborist and Trees for Houston executive director, Barry Ward, a project began to take share with a generous donation of 23 thoughtfully picked native tree varieties to serve as a barrier to the adjacent industrial park.

“Trees reduce stress and exposure to nature and green space benefits our social, psychological, and physical health.” Said Mr. Ward, “I can’t think of a more worthy place to invest than right here on the grounds of Nora’s Home.”

The only missing puzzle piece became mobilizing volunteers during the Coronavirus pandemic to take part in the implementation. Enter two longtime friends, Siler Fisher and Kennan Jones, both juniors at Strake Jesuit College Preparatory and members of Boy Scouts of America, Troop 211, in pursuit of their prestigious Eagle Scout badge.

On Saturday the 6th of March, more than 25 volunteers were called upon to dig, plant, mulch, and further irrigate the newly minted trees. “One of the best things about Nora’s Home is the sense of community you feel here,” said Siler Fisher. “It was wonderful to experience to support their mission.” Kennan Jones added, “We’d like to express our gratitude to the folks at Nora’s Home, as well as to the hardworking volunteers who contributed to this effort.”

The lifelong organ failure to transplant journey inevitably brings patients and their caregivers back to the Texas Medical Center, and to Nora’s Home, throughout the years for treatment. Guests staying at Nora’s Home have thoroughly enjoyed the “fruits” of the Scout’s labor as they spend more time admiring the new scenery and look forward to being part of the tree’s growth for years to come.

About Nora’s Home: Opened in 2013, Nora’s Home is the preferred accommodation destination for solid organ transplant patients and their families in the Texas Medical Center. Built with the specific needs of transplant patients and families in mind, our facility includes: 32 private bedrooms and baths, a fully equipped kitchen, a great room, a meditation room, a community room, an education center and free shuttle services to the medical center. The warm and welcoming environment and community of support guests encounter at Nora’s Home allows them to focus fully on the transformative task of healing. More than 1,300 families have stayed 37,000 night stays traveling from 38 different states and four countries. No guest is ever turned away from Nora’s Home because of an inability to pay. Visit www.norashome.org, or find us on Facebook: facebook.com/NorashomeTMC.

About Trees for Houston: Trees For Houston is a non-profit organization whose mission is to plant, protect and promote trees throughout the Greater Houston area. Since being founded in 1983, more than 600,000 trees have been planted across the southeast Texas region. For more information visit TreesForHouston.org.

Dropbox Photos: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/asx03wuuolbfa16/AABuUcpzwrN6UOvEjxHzNbK_a?dl=0