On Friday, May 13th, 25 employees from Ruppert Landscape’s Maryland and DC branches will come together for a day of service to help restore the grounds of the Long Branch Community Recreation and Senior Center in Silver Spring, MD. The cleanup and installation are part of Ruppert’s ongoing effort to partner with community organizations that are providing support and services for vulnerable populations.
This day of service involves an investment of both time and materials, totaling approximately $30,000 and consisting of 160 labor hours. To bring this project to fruition, the site was cleaned and prepped, turf mowed, dead and aging plant material removed, existing trees and shrubs pruned, community garden areas reframed and prepped, and over 125 perennials and shrubs installed along with bed edging and mulch.
The recreation center and surrounding community is home to a diverse population of about 20,000 residents including new immigrants from more than 120 different countries. “The Long Branch Center has been a community hub for more than 30 years, providing support, opportunities, programs, and services to one of the county’s most vulnerable communities,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “We appreciate the good will of Ruppert Landscape and their employees to provide their resources to prepare the outside area for reopening. This generous donation provides an attractive outdoor area for the community, enriches the neighborhood, and positively impacts our natural resources.”
“When we look for community service projects, we are looking for a project where we can utilize our landscaping skills and company resources to better our community,” said Craig Ruppert, CEO. “This project came to us through one of our employees whose friend is the Division Chief for Montgomery County Recreation and brought the opportunity to us seeking our partnership. We also have many customers we provide service to in this area and 50 employees who live within the community that’s serviced by this center. Our decision to get involved made sense on so many levels as it helps us our community, our customers, and our employees.”
During the early onset of the COVID-19, Long Branch Community Recreation Center (and the Coffield Community Center) became a shelter for homeless community members to have safe lodging and basic services. Due to the safe distancing and COVID-19 protocols there was a critical need to provide people with a warm and safe place with sufficient shower/bathroom facilities. Throughout the pandemic, the center ensured that those in need had access to medical services. In early March, the Nebel Street Shelter opened, and work began on renovating this center.
The extensive landscaping work makes it possible for community members to be welcomed back to their center with an inviting, attractive outdoor space—and enables the county to focus on the interior space at this center as well as the renovations that are being completed at the Coffield Community Center.
Long Branch Community Recreation and Senior Center is scheduled to open for normal operations on Monday, May 16th. The center will be able to provide summer camp once again; a safe place for teens to take classes, enjoy sports and have positive interactions with caring adults; and senior programs which include health, wellness, and congregate meal programs for vulnerable older adults in the community.
Ruppert Landscape, a family and employee-owned business, has been an industry-leading provider of commercial landscape construction and management services for nearly 50 years. Headquartered in Laytonsville, Maryland, the company employs over 1900 people and serves customers from 30 branches in eight primary markets: Philadelphia, Baltimore, D.C., Richmond, Raleigh, Charlotte, Atlanta, and Houston. The company has a long-standing tradition of growing its team and giving back to the community. Learn more at www.ruppertlandscape.com.