Christmas Trees for Troops

Imagine you are in the military, stationed in a place far away from your home and family. Just a couple weeks before Christmas, a Christmas tree is delivered to your door.

That's a scenario that will be occurring for about 17,000 military personnel and their families this December.

When the seed for the Trees for Troops program was planted, some tree farms were already delivering Christmas trees to troops on nearby bases. The Christmas Spirit Foundation began delivering the trees on a larger scale in 2005. That first year, 4,300 trees were delivered to troops.

"We knew it was already happening in various places," said Rick Dungey of the Christmas Spirit Foundation. "FedEx gave us a call to try and set up delivery of the White House Christmas tree to the White House." Since the White House organizes its own tree delivery, the Christmas Spirit Foundation and FedEx entered into a conversation about delivering trees to the troops. "FedEx offered to help deliver more trees on an even wider scale. They do all the logistics of delivery," Dungey said.

The program grew by leaps and bounds. In 2008, 17,000 Christmas trees were delivered to 37 bases worldwide. The Christmas Spirit Foundation is targeting 15,000 trees for the troops this year, but Dungey hopes the numbers will be even bigger.

"It depends mainly on how many trees consumers buy to add to those donated by farms," Dungey said.

The primary focus of the Christmas Spirit Foundation is keeping the spirit of Christmas alive and growing memories for the next generation of children and families. Donating Christmas trees to troops is a perfect way to do just that.

Christmas tree growers donate many of the trees, but individuals can get into the act as well. Trees may be purchased and donated by individuals.

Forty three tree farms from around the country are participating in Trees for Troops weekend, Dec. 4-6. Individuals, business and corporations may purchase a tree to be donated to the troops. The trees will be loaded onto a trailer that weekend and FedEx will pick them up on Dec. 7 and begin the process of delivering the trees.

The cost to purchase a tree that weekend for the troops is around $25. And it could make all the difference to troops stationed away from home, as well as those on military bases here in the United States. In addition to the trees, those participating in the Trees for Troops program will often have cards or banners available for people to sign to include with the tree.

Fort Benning, Georgia expects to receive around 650 trees this year, according to Darlene Hines, Outside Recreation Coordinator at Fort Benning.

"It takes us about an hour to unload the trees and get them set up," Hines said. "We usually have them set up by 10:00 and by 5:00 that evening, they're all gone."

Different bases distribute the trees in different ways. Some hold raffles for the trees and some distribute on a first-come, first-served basis. Only personnel with active military ID cards are eligible to receive a tree.

Big John's Christmas Trees will be participating in the Trees for Troops weekend.

According to Jim Livaditis, when a tree for the troops is purchased from one of their lots during the trees for troops weekend, the tree will be loaded onto a trailer. On Monday morning, Dec. 7, FedEx will then pick up the trailer of trees for distribution.

"We're hoping to donate 100 or more trees to the troops this year," said Livaditis.

Check the Trees for Troops website to find out where a lot or tree farm near you will be participating in the Trees for Troops weekend (outside the state of Georgia). Atlanta area locations are listed below.
Keep in mind that, due to the massive undertaking and the logistics involved, the earlier you purchase the tree for donation, the better. A few tree farms outside the Atlanta area have a few days beyond Dec. 7 they have trees available for donation.

And, remember to recycle your Christmas tree.

In Atlanta, all of the Big John's Christmas Tree lots are participating.

Hours: Open 9 a.m. - 10 p.m. daily, Nov 22 - Dec 22

Buckhead/Main Location
102 W. Paces Ferry Road, N.W.
Atlanta, GA 30305
Phone: 404-261-4497
404-261-3292
(Across from 103 West, next to the St. Regis)

East Cobb
4379 Roswell Road
Marietta, GA 30062
678-560-5521
(In E. Cobb Crossing Shopping Ctr., next to Dairy Queen)

Vinings
3306 Cobb Parkway
Atlanta, GA 30339
770-953-0674
(In Riverview Shopping Center at Paces Mill Rd.)

Ansley
1544 Piedmont Avenue
Atlanta, GA 30324
404-607-7421
(In Ansley Mall in front of CVS)

Cumming
503 Lakeland Plaza Road
Cumming, GA 30040
678-965-4062
(Lakeland Plaza in front of Kroger at GA 400 & Hwy. 20)

Austell
1355 East West Connector
Austell, GA 30106
678-945-5171
(In Heritage Hill's Shopping Center, Behind CVS Pharmacy)

Roswell
1340 Woodstock Road, Hwy. 92
Roswell, GA 30075
770-649-6724
(Next to Christ United Methodist Church)

Dunwoody
5555 Chamblee Dunwoody Road
Dunwoody, GA 30338
770-396-7066
(In Dunwoody Village Shopping Center)

Midtown
1525 Peachtree Street
Atlanta, GA 30309
404-815-8832
(At Beverly Rd., across from WSB White Columns)

White Water
250 North Cobb Parkway
Marietta, GA 30062
770-421-9745
(In White Water Amusement Park)

Johns Creek
3651 Peachtree Parkway
Suwanee, GA 30024
770-232-2504
(In Johns Creek Shopping Center, In front of Kroger)

Old Alabama
3005 Old Alabama Road
Johns Creek, GA 30022
770-664-5425
(Old Alabama Square Shopping Ctr. at Haynes Bridge Road next to Walgreens)

Jones Bridge
10955 Jones Bridge Road
Alpharetta, GA 30022
678-893-0755
(At State Bridge Road in North Bridges Shopping Center)

Brookhaven
3950 Peachtree Road, N.E.
Atlanta, GA 30319
(Brookhaven Plaza Shopping Center in front of former Wilson & Sons Antiques)

Buckhead/Roswell Road
3906 Roswell Road, N.E.
Atlanta, GA 30342
404-869-9688
(Intersection of Roswell Rd. and Laurel Forest Circle, Buckhead, Goodwill/High Country Shopping Ctr.)

Holcomb Bridge
8465 Holcomb Bridge Road
Johns Creek, GA 30022
678-795-9611
(We're back at Rivermont Station, 4 miles East of GA 400)

The following tree farms in Georgia are also participating in the Trees for Troops program, although they are not participating in the promotional weekend. Call or check the website (where applicable) for more information.

Bottoms Tree Farm
Contact: Dennis Bottoms
5880 John Burruss Road
Cumming, GA 30040
770-889-5235
404-538-0493

Days of Creation Christmas Tree Farm
3997 Waycross Highway
Jesup, GA, 31545
912-530-9672
912-256-1167

Homestead Christmas Tree Farm
Contact: James & Linda Butler
3850 Highway 81 West
Hampton, GA 30228
770-707-0854

Hunter's Christmas Tree Farm
14680 Wood Rd
Milton, GA, 30004
770-475-0713

Jacks Creek Farms
Contact: Damon Malcom
2291 Price Mill Road
Bostwick, GA 30623
706-343-1855
706-474-2554

Kinsey Family Farm
7170 Jot-em-down Rd
Gainesville, GA, 30506
770-887-6028

Minter's Tree Farm
283 Hill's Bridge Rd
Fayetteville, GA, 30215
770-461-2840

Sleepy Hollow Christmas Tree Farm
628 Sleepy Hollow Rd
Powder Springs, GA, 30127
770-942-6770