When a violent tornado ripped through the Fox Valley in July, it left Menasha with hundreds of uprooted cottonwood trees. Rather than simply mourn the loss, woodcarver Tom Meier saw an opportunity to heal the community.
Carving hope from the storm’s debris
Meier rides his bike through local parks, gathering bark and wood from the fallen trees. He then hand‑carves each piece into an owl, a symbol of wisdom and renewal. “Cottonwood trees around here are my favorite carving material,” Meier said. “The bark off the trees… I started collecting bark on my bike ride through the park, and so I started carving owls.”
Each owl sells for $10 to $20, and Meier’s original goal was modest: raise $500 to purchase a tree or two for the city. The response far exceeded his expectations. “I’m at like $3,000 right now,” he told FOX 11. “I partnered with Apple Blossoms of Appleton, they’re a non‑profit, to plant some trees in the city. We bought our first batch of trees last week.”
Partnership with Apple Blossoms
Apple Blossoms of Appleton, a local nonprofit dedicated to reforestation, agreed to match Meier’s fundraising effort. The organization will use the proceeds to buy and plant new cottonwood saplings throughout Menasha. The City of Menasha has committed to planting the trees next spring, ensuring that the community sees the benefits of the project within a year.
Meier estimates the cost of each tree at about $200. If the current funds support the planting of 15‑20 trees, the city will regain a meaningful portion of the canopy lost in the storm. “Hopefully I’ll be able to sit under the trees and carve, you know?” Meier said. “We lost thousands and thousands of trees, and you can just see around here, they need to be replaced.”
How to help
For residents who want to contribute beyond purchasing an owl, donations can be made directly to Apple Blossoms of Appleton. The nonprofit will continue to purchase and plant trees until the city’s canopy is restored.
Meier plans to keep carving owls until the fundraising goal is met and the new trees are thriving. His effort demonstrates how a single craftsman’s creativity can spark a community‑wide response, turning loss into lasting renewal.
Original reporting: FOX 11 WLUK Green Bay (local) — read the source article.
