Christmas is not complete without a Christmas tree, and since 2005 the source for trees for many of those serving in the Armed Forces has been the Trees for Troops program.
On December 5th, active duty military personnel and their families turned out at the Desert View Housing area aboard Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, California, to snag the holiday staple during the 15th annual Trees for Troops event.
The Christmas SPIRIT Foundation donates the holiday evergreens through its Trees for Troops program. Ann O’Connor, with the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation, said they were formed in 2005 by the National Christmas Tree Association, a trade association for the Real Christmas Tree industry.
Package delivery giant Federal Express has partnered with the Foundation from the beginning to donate its extensive shipping and delivery network to bring more than 225,000 trees worldwide while racking up more than 880,000 miles of travel during FedEx’s mission to get the trees to the families.
The Trees for Troops program is now active in 25 states and serves 87 American military installations in the continental United States and around the world in such places as Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Qatar, Spain and Guam.
O’Connor said monetary donations to the Trees for Troops program can be made online at https://christmasspiritfoundation.org/dnn/Donate.
She added that donations can also be made to the program by buying a tree to donate when you buy your own at a Christmas tree retailer. Ask the seller if they are involved in Trees for Troops. Many Christmas tree retailers accept donations to the charity.
To find out more about the Trees for Troops program go online at:
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/trees4troops
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Trees4Troops
• YouTube: www.youtube.com/ ChristmasSPIRITFdn
• Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/trees4troops/
“Donating to the Trees for Troops program helps us bring some happiness to military families and active duty personnel serving at home and overseas,” O’Connor said.