APO KEEPS KC LANDSCAPE HEALTHY WITH BRIDGING THE GAP

On Tuesday, March 17 seven volunteers from UMKC’s chapter of Alpha Phi Omega volunteered with Bridging The Gap, a civic partnership that seeks to solve environmental problems trough prevention, education and recycling.

Volunteers met at Swope Park and worked to remove bush honeysuckle, an invasive species that impacts the growth and restoration of Kansas City’s native plant species.

Working in pairs, one person would cut the larger, green-leaved honeysuckle plants at the root while the other followed behind with a blue-colored herbicide, treating the roots with the solution to kill the plant and prevent further growth or re-growth. Bridging The Gap plans to do a burn in the near future in order to get rid of the smaller plants of the invasive species.

Afterwards, the volunteers were treated to a small hike as supervisor Linda Lehrbaum took them to the bluffs to show them the beautiful area surrounding Swope Park. Alpha Phi Omega hopes to work with Bridging The Gap again in the near future.

IMPACT STATISTICS — IN 23 MONTHS, WE’VE HELPED 755 VOLUNTEERS COMPLETE 1,939.5 SERVICE HOURS FOR 42 CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS