On Friday, July 31, MBK teamed up with The Forest Park Zoo for a day of volunteer service in preparation for the zoo's “Brew at the Zoo” event. Volunteers, organized by team leaders Jacob Bear and Samantha Calvao, spent the afternoon assisting with landscaping, grounds maintenance, and event setup. 

Beyond helping prepare the zoo for one of its signature events, volunteers had the opportunity to connect with team members, learn about the Forest Park Zoo initiatives, and tour the animal habitats. 

About The Forest Park Zoo 

Since the late 1800s, the Zoo has been a center for the region’s diverse cultural and educational environment. It is a non-profit organization governed by the Forest Park Zoological Society. Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, it is home to over 225 native and non-native animals. The organization works with wildlife rehabilitators across America to provide animals that have been deemed non-releasable to the wild due to illness, injury, permanent disability, habituation to humans, or other factors. 

When Teams Come Together in Times of Need 

A week after the team helped with the “Brew at the Zoo” event, a macroburst hit the zoo on Aug. 8, knocking down several trees and causing significant damage throughout the grounds. Thankfully, no animals were injured during the storm. 

Team MBK returned on Aug. 21, to lend a hand alongside the MassMutual team with the cleanup effort. Together, the teams removed large tree limbs, raked debris, rewired a fence, and completed other cleanup tasks to help restore the zoo following the storm in prep for the reopening to the public. 

Although the storm caused significant damage, the zoo's spirits remained high, and the staff were happy to officially welcome visitors back to the zoo on Aug. 24. For additional information about the zoo and community involvement, please visit: https://www.forestparkzoo.org/.