From the comfort of their motor scooters, Casa de los Amigos residents Ellen Jordan and Anita Boyance are working to help replant California’s wildfire-ravaged forests — one penny at a time.
Jordan and Boyance, who have made themselves into community event planners at the South Redondo retirement home, took it upon themselves two months ago to bring the residents of Casa together to help a good cause.
Through the United States Forestry Service’s Penny Pines program, Jordan and Boyance have been raising money to plant seedlings in California’s forests. Penny Pines was founded in 1941 by the San Francisco Sportswomen’s Association. It has raised more than a million dollars. Each $68 donation supports the planting of one acre — up to 350 trees, according to the Forestry Service.
Already in their two months raising funds, the pair has come up with enough for four plantings, honoring family members, the administrators of Casa de los Amigos, Redondo’s emergency responders and the 19 firefighters who died in Arizona’s 2013 Yarnell Hill fire.
Jordan became aware of the program 20 years ago as a member of a women’s club in Northern California.
“Ellen is responsible for everything that gets started here,” Boyance said. “She’s our—“
“Busybody!,” Jordan interjected.
Boyance laughed, then continued, saying “She’s our leader — she has the motivation to get us started.”
Together, the two have set up a two-dollar Saturday morning coffee breakfast for Casa residents, and for the celebration of Jordan’s 90th birthday, planned a series of games, rather than a self-focused party.
It’s all been in the name of bringing back the cooperative spirit they feel Casa’s community lacks, Boyance said. But, with Penny Pines, the two feel they have something sustainable.
“It’s been a challenge,” Jordan said. “There’s not 10 percent of the people in this building participating,” though many residents have come through, dropping dollars worth of small change into their collection jars. “We’ll count it, and we’ll drag it to the bank,” said Jordan.
“I think that we can keep it going,” Boyance said. “There are a few people who are interested, who come back to me with a handful of change, a dollar bill when I’m around the building…they’re interested enough to want it to continue.”
“That’s truly the secret to happiness,” Boyance said. “Keeping busy and thinking of someone aside from yourself.”
