The Appellate Practice Section has been busy in the community over the last year. In a period of about nine months, the section assisted in the “greening” of Detroit and helped curb hunger in the Detroit area.

The section began its work by partnering with Greening of Detroit, an organization dedicated to restoring Detroit’s tree-lined streets and parks following decades of loss due to Dutch Elm disease, storm damage, urban expansion, neglect, and more recently, the Emerald Ash Borer. Its mission today is to inspire a healthy urban environment enhanced by the many social, economic, and ecological benefits of planting trees. Together last May, the organization joined section members, appellate court personnel, family members, and friends, and planted trees along a stretch of Three Mile Drive from Bremen Street to Mack Avenue in the City of Detroit.   

Shortly thereafter, the Section teamed up with Forgotten Harvest, an organization dedicated to ending hunger and preventing food waste in Metro Detroit. The Forgotten Harvest team rescues fresh food from retail grocers, farms, wholesale distributors, and entertainment venues throughout the area. Last June, the Section worked at a Forgotten Harvest warehouse, repackaging “rescued” food for redistribution to agencies and recipients in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties.

Finally, earlier this year, the Section joined Gleaners, which provides access to nutritious food,  and helped out at a local warehouse.

The Section is hoping to plan more community events going forward, including another event with Greening of Detroit in the near future.

For more information on these events or future events, contact Joanne Swanson at jswanson@kerr-russell.com.