Timber's Army gets it done - Friends of Trees

Photo: cc/Audrey Eschright — Photo: Audrey Eschright

We are Timbers Army
We are mental and we’re barmy
True supporters forever more!
—Timbers Army Chant

If you’ve ever been to a Portland Timbers game, you know that the 4,000 plus-strong Timber’s Army is the loudest and most loyal band of supporters a team has ever known.

The same is true when they come volunteer for OUR team—planting trees. And come out they do, every year, since 2012.

Timber's Army plants trees — **Plant Trees, Build Teamwork**
We love it when groups come to volunteer! If your group or business is interested, you can fill out this form.

On February 21, about 30 from the Army—along with Mascot Timber Joey—will join North Portland neighbors to plant trees in University Park, Cathedral Park, and St. Johns.

It’s fitting for the Army to have a presence in this area. This spring, a new ULS Pro team, Timbers 2 (or T2), will debut on its home pitch: Merlo Field at the University of Portland.

“We’re going to start taking over some of the establishments around there,” says Stephan Lewis, a member of the Timbers Army community outreach committee and an experienced Friends of Trees Crew Leader himself. “From afar we can be intimidating, but the closer you get, it’s all about spreading the love.

“Our whole organization is volunteer oriented,” he says of the Timbers Army.

Timber Joey Planting Trees — Mascot Timber Joey will join the Timbers Army and other volunteers planting trees February 21 in North Portland. Come join us! Photo: FoT File

In addition to volunteering for organizations like the Oregon Food Bank and Friends of Trees, the Timbers Army’s affiliated nonprofit Operation Pitch Invasion builds and refurbishes soccer fields for youth in low-income areas. On top of that, a scholarship fund for talented young players has sent kids like Rubio Ruben—the best footballer to ever come out of Portland, Lewis says—to training camps and tryouts. (Ruben now plays professionally in Europe.)

Being out in the community helps them uncover needs—and young talent.

“Friends of Trees is one of those avenues that helps us keep our ties to the community. These kids see us with their scarves, and they come out with their soccer balls. It’s a beautiful, beautiful moment,” Lewis says.

Lewis would recommend any group or businesses to volunteer together with Friends of Trees.

“For me, it’s always been a really great experience. There’s a visible improvement in the environment that you’re actually doing. It gives you great satisfaction for doing something for just a few hours on a Saturday,” he says.

If your group or business would like to sign up and volunteer together, you can fill out this form.

Your group will join the ranks of these recent groups, below, who’ve volunteered with Friends of Trees. You all rock!

Volunteer groups that have planted trees together this season:
Epson Portland, Oregon Adventure Scouts, PDX Do Gooders, Oregon Food Bank, Clackamas High School Green Team, La Salle Prep Biology students, Girl Scout Troop 40020, PRiNK Technologies, WVU Alumni, Cleandango, College Possible, Port of Portland, Vibrant Generation youth group, AP Environmental Science, Reynolds High School, PCC BMZA club, Windells Academy, Oregon Zoo – ECO Team, PSU Environmental Sustainability SINQ, Tanasbourne YSA, Safe Place for Youth, Sherwood High School, Key Club, Cub Scout Pack 838, HandsOn Greater Portland, South Salem High School, West Salem Rotary Interact Club, Impact Northwest, Urban Opportunities, Whole Foods, Ohio University PDX Alumni, 636th Mt Tabor Scouts, Warner Pacific College, Cleveland High School, NHS, SEEDS, Reed College, Clark College Environmental Club, Boy Scout Troop 799, Tigard High School, NHS, Southridge High School, National Honor Society, Pacific University Rotaract Club, Forword, Insignia Health Group, Barlow High School, NHS, Oregon City High School, NHS. Salesforce, ORANA, University of Denver Alumni, Service Portland, Hopworks Urban Brewery, OSU 4-H, Columbia River HS National Honor Society, Kaiser Permanente, CSL Plasma-Hillsboro, Sellwood Consulting, Target Store employees – Wilsonville, KinderCare Learning Center, Pacific University Rotaract, Bamboo Sushi, CLEAResult, Grant High School students, Explorer Post 58, Anne Downing’s David Douglas ESL students, Centennial High School, National Honor’s Society, Cub Scout Pack 199, Girl Scout Troop, 40321, Cub Scout Den 353, EYM (Educating Young Minds) Search Division, AKPsi University of Portland, U of P, Blue Key Honor Society, Benson National Honors Society, Portland BBG #313
Thank you!