Chub Lake Tree Farm of rural Carlton is doing much more than just providing fresh, fragrant Christmas trees for holiday enjoyment this year.
The Chub Lake Tree Farm, located just south of Carlton, is part of a national effort called "Trees for Troops" which hopes to provide nearly 20,000 real Christmas trees to military families across the United States and overseas this Christmas season.
In previous years, Jim and Bev Whorton, owners of the Chub Lake Tree Farm, along with other Christmas tree farmers and retailers, donated their own trees for the "Trees for Troops" program. The Christmas SPIRIT Foundation, the charitable branch of the National Christmas Tree Association which implements "Trees for Troops," received many inquiries from the public as to how they could help. As a result, since 2007 consumers have had the opportunity to participate in this program.
This year the Chub Lake Tree Farm agreed to be a collection site for donated trees. You can participate by purchasing a $25 (6-foot) tree at the Chub Lake Tree Farm, 1867 E. Chub Lake Road, Carlton MN. That tree will be part of a truckload leaving this area and will be delivered to a military family in the United States or overseas.
Cards will be available for personal messages. You are encouraged to come to the farm during "Trees for Troops Weekend," Friday, Dec. 5, through Sunday, Dec. 7, and purchase a tree for a military family who is spending Christmas away from home.
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If it is inconvenient for you to come to the farm but you want to participate in this effort, donations will accepted anytime by phone at 218-384-4549, with payment to be made by credit card (Mastercard or Visa).
The Whortons extend special thanks to FedEx, who donates the shipping of the trees and will bring a large trailer to the Chub Lake Tree Farm for loading, then provide transportation to its final destination.
Also, members of the local National Guard Unit, C Troop, 1-94 Cavalry, plan to donate their time, helping with tree loading and sharing information about their own military experiences.
The Whortons are committed to loading 100-plus trees this year and, as part of this program, for each buyer who purchases a tree for this program, the Whortons will donate $5 to the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation for implementation of this and other programs for kids, families and the environment.
"Trees for Troops" began in 2005 when FedEx and the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation provided 4,300 real Christmas trees to military families at five bases in the U.S. and overseas.
In 2006, the program almost tripled when nearly 12,000 trees were delivered to military families at 25 bases in 17 countries; and in 2007, nearly 17,000 trees were delivered to military families at 37 bases in 15 countries.
This year, the two organizations, with the help of consumers across the country, plan to deliver an estimated 20,000 real Christmas trees to military families at approximately 40 bases in the U.S. and overseas.
The Whortons stated they feel this is a great way for consumers to become directly involved with the "Trees for Troops" program and allow more military families to receive a tree this holiday season. They said they feel it is extremely important to provide memories at this time of year, especially for families with loved ones serving our country. They stated the hope that many will join them in saying "Merry Christmas" to our military by donating a real Christmas Tree for this purpose.
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For more information on this program, go to www.chublaketreefarm.com; www.realchristmastrees.org; www.christmasspiritfoundation.org .
