Photo Credit: USMC Archives @ Flickr (CC)
It’s hard to beat the smell of a fresh Christmas tree. The Christmas SPIRIT Foundation agrees and developed a plan for delivering fresh evergreens to deployed American soldiers and military families at home.
The Christmas SPIRIT Foundation’s flagship program is Trees for Troops. Since its inception in 2005, CSF and FedEx have partnered to provide more than 139,000 fresh farm-grown trees. FedEx delivers trees to 69 military bases all over the world. Military families in 28 states have received doses of Christmas spirit from the Trees for Troops program.
Founded in 2005 as an offshoot of the National Christmas Tree Association, CSF works to advance the spirit of Christmas and encourage the use of natural Christmas trees in celebration. Trees for Troops is funded by CSF with charitable donations from individuals and businesses and through grants and sponsorships. Delivery services are donated by FedEx. Trees are donated by Christmas tree farmers and by the general public during CSF’s annual Trees for Troops Weekend.
Get Involved: Trees for Troops Weekend
You can donate a tree from December 5-7, this year’s Trees for Troops weekend. FedEx trailers will be parked at each of 27 participating farms, retail lots, and garden centers. The tree you donate will be loaded on the truck and delivered the following week. In 2013, people purchased 7,216 trees for military families.
Each year, Trees for Troops has had to turn down nearly one thousand tree requests from military families. You can get involved in meeting this need:
Tell friends and groups about the Trees for Troops weekend
Like Trees for Troops on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Pinterest
Suggest the CSF “tree matching” program to your employer
Make an online contribution directly to the organization
Purchase an item from CSF’s online store to help fundraise throughout the year
Participate in the online, buy-a-tree campaign each year in November
Supporting the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation can help soldiers on home soil and abroad enjoy the spirit of Christmas with a freshly cut Christmas tree. Find out more at christmasspiritfoundation.org
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