For Hometown News
PALM CITY - When the Samaritan Center for young boys and families began construction on its new school, set to open in the fall, they never expected a landscaping crisis would lead to a new partnership.
For any new construction project in Martin County, a landscaping element is required. With ongoing construction efforts and rising costs for the new Seymour St. John Learning and Activity Center, funds were allocated to various areas before mulch could be purchased.
Newly planted flowers and bushes remained exposed in the barren sand. R3 Recycling, a local environmental company based at the Martin County Transfer Station in Palm City, heard about the Samaritan Center's dilemma and immediately offered to help.
"It was a natural fit for us to jump in and assist the Samaritan Center," said Jeff D'Adamo, vice president of R3 Recycling.
R3 is the subcontractor to Martin County responsible for separating and recycling waste, as well as grinding vegetative waste for reuse.
Mr. D'Adamo and his business partner and brother, Justin D'Adamo, were able to grind vegetative waste into mulch and coordinate the delivery of truckloads of mulch, lining the roadway with the much-needed donated material.
"Justin and I have been working to become more actively involved in the community since our contract with Martin County began," said Mr. D'Adamo.
"Being able to assist the Samaritan Center by helping to defray the costs of their landscaping needs, while beautifying the new facility at the same time, was a no brainer for us."
The mountains of mulch were received by delighted Samaritan Center staff and board members.
"It's a great example of how contributions of all kinds can ease the financial challenges of nonprofit organizations like ours," said Amy Christensen, community development director for the Samaritan Center.
"Something as simple as the donation of mulch enables us to direct funds to better provide services for our young boys."
As a result of R3's donation, the driveway leading to and from the center is now complete and looks beautiful.
R3 Recycling handles approximately 35,000 tons of construction and demolition debris annually. R3 also takes in, separates, grinds and disposes for beneficial reuse, approximately 60,000 tons of vegetative waste that is transported to the Martin County facility each year.
R3 has been grinding Florida green waste and hardwoods for more than 20 years and has developed in-depth expertise in processing high volumes of softwood and palm frond material commonplace in Florida.
For more about R3, visit www.R3recycling.com.
For more information about the Samaritan Center, call (772) 287-4123, Ext. 203.