RICHLAND — Gesa Credit Union, in partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation, raised more than $66,000, which will help plant more than 31,000 trees across the Pacific Northwest, according to an announcement from Gesa.

The money was raised through the credit union’s Forevergreen Affinity Card, according to the announcement.

With the Forevergreen Affinity Card funds, the Arbor Day Foundation will plant the trees in Washington Department of Natural Resources managed forests, according to the announcement. This initiative aims to restore Washington’s public lands, addressing wildfires, diseases, and insect infestations. The focus includes strategically planting Douglas fir, Western hemlock, and Western red cedar trees. These efforts aim to regenerate multi-species forest stands resilient to diseases and insects, ensuring a healthier future for the forests.

The Forevergreen Affinity Card is the sixth card Gesa has launched that supports Local Heroes, generating an even greater impact on our communities, according to the announcement. The other groups honored in Gesa’s suite of Local Heroes Affinity Cards include firefighters, law enforcement, health care workers, teachers and veterans. 

“At Gesa, we're dedicated to supporting and strengthening the communities our members and team members call home, which is why we’re ecstatic to see the immense impact our Forevergreen Affinity Card and overall partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation has had across the region,” Chad Langford, vice president of marketing at Gesa Credit Union, wrote in the announcement. "It's inspiring to see our members join us in planting trees in the Pacific Northwest. We could not have done this without their support.”