Cline family plants the seeds of community in Killbuck students
By Dave Mast
May 6, 2013
554
Arbor Day has always been important to Cathy Cline.
Cathys late husband, Lynn, started Cline Bros. Tree Service and her son now continues the family business.
To honor her late husband and continue to promote the act of planting life-sustaining trees everywhere she can, Cathy and the Cline family enjoy tying in caring for the earth and planting trees as a way to provide good clean air for all, together with aiding families who are battling cystic fibrosis.
Recently, the Cline family again joined forces with the students at Killbuck Elementary.
The students of Killbuck tied the celebration of Arbor Day and their cystic fibrosis (CF) annual fundraiser together in the construction of an enormous tree in the school cafeteria.
Each student was asked to decorate and return a maple leaf to add to their class branch on the tree. The tree was a reminder of how much we all rely upon trees for many purposes, most of all fresh air, said Killbuck teacher Brandi Schlauch.
In exchange for returning the leaves, students received a small Arbor Day treat and Jared Cline of Cline Brothers Tree Service donated $1 for every leaf, which went to cystic fibrosis research at Rainbow Babies and Childrens Hospital. The Cline family donation, along with other money collected, totaled more than $500.
Schlauch lost a family member, niece Ashley Taylor, to CF, so it has always been a cause that she has fought for. As always, the students were eager to join in the fight to cure CF.
We always try to teach the students to think of others and ways to help those around them, said Schlauch. It is always wonderful how the building takes ownership of whatever project the student council throws their way. We support Share a Christmas, Relay for Life, CF, veterans, the Humane Society, deployed soldiers and food drives, but no matter what, every kid gets involved. Its awesome.
As for the Arbor Day experience, Cathy Cline believes that it is important to remain connected to the youth of the school, and Arbor Day always has been a big part of the Cline familys lives.
We started 20 years ago, when my niece who had CF came to school, said Cline. For the past 20 years, a student or relative of a student or a staff member have been attending our school with CF. Cline Bros. has sponsored CF and Arbor Day for all 20 years at the school and in the community.
Both the Killbuck staff and the Cline family have been instrumental in teaching kids about community involvement through both the Relay for Life cancer event and through CF and other events, and have promoted community awareness in everything they do.
Our kids are caring and compassionate. They know people with differences arent different inside, and what they do makes a difference, said Cline.
Some may just see a tree, but with each leaf, with each planting and with every time they reach out to the youth of Killbuck, the Cline family and Killbuck Elementary staff continue to show Killbucks youth the value of community involvement and helping others.
