The Hormel Nature Center will be getting some help in its effort to clean up trees downed during the June tornado thanks to a recent donation.

Nature center director Larry Dolphin said Wednesday at a park board meeting that retired Hormel employee Gary Ray had given a little more than $12,500 to the center through company stock.

A little less than $8,000 of that will be spent to get some young workers from the Minnesota Conservation Corps in to help clean up trees.

Dolphin said he expects the help to arrive in early April and to work for about two weeks.

Another $5,000 from the donation will go toward the 2010 RE-fest.

The third annual event focusing on conservation, the environment and green energy is slated for next September.