A Hands-in-the-Dirt Day of Service

By Alana Danieu,

RISE Programs Manager

Under bright blue skies and the warmth of the spring sun, more than fifty JetBlue employees rolled up their sleeves for a hands-in-the-dirt day of service, joining forces with Fraport USA T5 to support a greener future in Far Rockaway.

The corporate volunteer event in early May, held at RISE Native Plant Nursery, adjacent to Coastal Conservation Center in Arverne East, was a joint effort to restore and preserve local biodiversity through native plantings. With gloves on and shovels in hand, the dedicated team managed to plant more than 750 native shrubs and wildflowers, an impressive feat that will contribute to the long-term health and resilience of the coastal ecosystem.

RISE (Rockaway Initiative for Sustainability and Equity), a community-based organization focused on environmental justice and climate resilience, with the support of National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Booth Ferris Foundation, and Treebed LLC, opened the nursery earlier this year as a hub for native plant propagation, education, and community involvement. The area, once underutilized and vacant for decades, is being transformed into a thriving green space and environmental resource.

RISE Native Plant Nursery and Educational Garden, now dotted with native vegetation like butterflyweed (Asclepias tuberosa), beach plum (Prunus maritima), and coneflower (Echinacea pallida), will grow plants in the dunes north of the boardwalk, along the peninsula, as part of “Greater Rockaway” Coastal Resilience Plan, while also serving as an educational resource for local schools, volunteers, and community members.

As the sun dipped lower and volunteers stood beside rows of freshly planted vegetation, the sense of achievement and purpose was tangible. The day was not just about planting, but it also was about connection: to the land, to the community, and to a shared vision of a greener future.