Selling trees for a purpose

Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
TREES PLEASE — Houlton High School students Adam Casillas, left, and DJ McGary show off some of the many fresh-cut local Christmas trees available for purchase at S.W. Collins in Houlton Saturday. Proceeds from the sale of the trees benefits the SAD 29 music program for its trip to New York City in April.
By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — The search for the perfect Christmas tree could actually turn into a fund-raising boom for music students at Houlton High School.
    S.W. Collins Company in Houlton recently began selling freshly cut Christmas trees at its Bangor Road location and has decided to donate the proceeds from those sales to the music program.
    The Houlton High School Band and Chorus members, with the help of the Music Boosters, have been raising funds to support their trip to New York City, according to Jason Anderson, choral director for RSU 29. The HHS Band and Chorus will be attending the Heritage World Strides Music Festival from April 25-28 in New York City
    “More than 100 students have been earning money by working at various festivals, activities and doing special fundraisers to support their trip,” he said. “The four-day tour has a planned itinerary that includes a music festival competition, Broadway show, city tours of 5th Avenue, Rockefeller Center, Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty and a dinner cruise around the tip of Manhattan. A trip of this magnitude costs around $600 per student. The Music Boosters have been hosting events, selling concessions at the fall musical, and will be hosting many more festivals in the upcoming months.”
    On Saturday, high school students Adam Casillas and DJ McGary were outside the hardware store, wearing Santa caps and helping customers choose their trees. Students can sign up for shifts at the store.
    “All of the students have to earn eight credits in order to go on the trip,” McGary explained. “Every four hours of community service equals one credit. I think this fundraiser will be one of our biggest money makers.”
    “It was very generous of S.W. Collins to do this for us,” added Casillas. “We have been doing fundraisers for quite awhile now, but this one is really nice.”
    Trees are only available during store hours, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.