Community Corner

Buy a Tree, Do Good

Support Boy Scouts, Sea Scouts, Kiwanis, and even our troops. There are a lot of good causes that can use the dollars. Here's a way to do good while you get ready for the Christmas holiday.

For many of us, this weekend will be the time to buy a tree. But instead of just buying a tree from anywhere, check out the local organizations here and see how your dollars can serve two purposes—to get a tree for yourself, and let the proceeds support other work in your community or others'.

Gilroy:

CHS Christmas tree lot fundraiserThe Christopher High School track and field team will sell Christmas trees in the back parking lot at CHS as a fundraiser from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. each Saturday through Dec. 11. They will have Douglas fir, noble fir and Turkish fir trees available. The fundraiser is to help the team with the cost of uniforms, travel and equipment. Free hot chocolate will be available. Details: Jeff. Myers@gusd.k12.ca.us.

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San Martin:

Trees for Troops at Battaglia Ranch Christmas Tree Farm: Another tree farm opportunity! Since 2005, Christmas tree growers from across the U.S. have supported military families by providing 84,000 fresh cut Christmas trees, as a program of the Spirit of Christmas Foundation. For the past several years FedEx has helped to deliver, on average, 17,000 real Christmas trees each year to more than 60 military bases throughout the U.S. and overseas. This year, the goal is to reach 100,000 Christmas Trees delivered since 2005.

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Battaglia Ranch Christmas Tree Farm is an official Trees for Troops location, 13580 Murphy Ave., San Martin. You are invited to come to the farm and pick out a tree to be donated. Purchase a Noble fir or two, fill out a greeting card and attach it to the tree. Members of the American Legion will be at the farm on December 3 and 4 to assist with the program. Trees will be shipped on Dec. 5.

If you can’t personally come to the farm by December 4, Battaglia Ranch will do the following:

1. Pick out a noble fir Christmas tree for you to donate to the troops.
2. Fill out and insert a greeting card into the tree naming you and your family as the donors. You can choose to remain anonymous if you wish.
3. Battaglia will include your email address if you choose.
4. Load your trees on to the FedEx trailer on December 5, 2011.
5. Please send us a completed Official Trees for Troops Participation form.

Los Gatos:

Loma Day at Peacock Tree Farm17950 Mountain Charlie Rd., Los Gatos. Dec. 3, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Fifty percent of proceeds benefit the Loma Prieta Public Education Fund. Make getting your Christmas tree a fun family outing. Free apple cider, hot chocolate and other holiday treats. 

Mountain View:

Fresh cut trees: Help support local high school sports when you buy your tree at the  Tree Lot. The Mountain View Los Alto Union High School District promises a better selection. They are now open at their new location at 1035 El Monte Rd., on the corner of El Camino Real in the  and CVS parking lot. The lot has just received a second shipment of freshly cut trees from Oregon going on sale this weekend. It has premium-grade noble firs, 3 to 11 feet in size, free bagging and a guarantee for the entire season. Also your purchase is tax deductible. You can direct up to 20 percent of your purchase to any school or organization. Their hours will be from 4 to 7 p.m. weekdays, and 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on  the weekends until Dec. 20. You can even order online at mvlatrees.com.

Los Altos:

25th Annual Los Altos Kiwanis Tree Lot, parking lot, Foothill Expressway and Arboretum Ave., Los Altos. Selling Noble Firs, wreaths, garlands and centerpieces. Mon-Fri, from 3 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., and Sat. & Sun, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. As Los Altos Kiwanis says: "It makes a difference where you buy your tree!" 

Palo Alto:

Sea Scouts Christmas Tree Lot, at the Little League field at 3672 Middlefield Rd., Palo Alto, offers fresh-cut Christmas trees. Open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekends. 650-493-6614. The lot is its biggest venue to raise money to subsidize fuel and maintenance costs that keeps their program affordable.

Paly Sports Boosters Tree Lot, at the northwest corner of , 50 Embarcadero Rd., opens 4 to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. 

 


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