Staff Writer
MAPLETON – Richards Christmas Tree Farm is making Christmas more pleasant for military families across the United States with a recent donation of trees to the National Christmas Tree Association’s Trees for Troops project.
Photo courtesy of Gayle Richards
TREES FOR TROOPS – Lucas Richards and his father, Frank Richards, prepared a shipment of trees for transport to Piper Mountain Christmas Tree Farm in Newburgh. From there, FedEx picked up the trees and continued the journey, with plans to have the trees to military families in time for Christmas. The Richards, owners of Richards Christmas Tree Farm, in Mapleton, have taken part in the nationwide program for a couple years.
The association teams up with organizations and tree farms across the country to bring a little holiday cheer to families of military personnel. This is the second year the Richards family has taken part.
“We pledged 25 Christmas trees to the project. The trees caught a ride on the end of a trailer headed to southern Maine early on Saturday,” said business owner Gayle Richards.
The Nov. 24 shipment was delivered to Piper Mountain Christmas Tree Farm in Newburgh by Richards’ son, Lucas Richards, and her husband, Frank Richards. From there, the trees were picked up by FedEx on Thursday, Nov. 29.
“This is the second year in a row Richards Christmas Tree Farm has donated trees to the Trees for Troops project,” said Richards.
The business donated the trees as part of the nationwide Trees for Troops program, sponsored by the Maine Christmas Tree Association, the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation and FedEx Corp.
This holiday season, Trees for Troops was expected to collect and deliver 15,000 to 17,000 real Christmas trees from 27 states to military families across the United States, as well as to soldiers serving overseas, noted Richards.
New this year, consumers will also have the opportunity to purchase trees to donate to the program at nearly 40 FedEx trailer drop locations across the nation, Richards added.
Members of the American Legion, Ray Goding Post 88, of Presque Isle, transported the trees in 2006 and had planned to do the same this year but due to a scheduling conflict, were unable to do so this year.
“Last year the American Legion transported the trees to Newburgh for us. This year they were unable to do so with the short notice I gave them, so they were transported by my husband, Frank, and his father, Gary Richards,” said Richards.
Though unable to make the trip, Post 88 did contribute to the process, donating funds toward transportation costs.
“Post 88 donated a sum of money to help defray the cost of that transportation. A very nice gentleman by the name of Carl McGlauflin delivered a check in the amount of $75 to me for transporting the Christmas trees,” said Richards.
The tree program is a small token of appreciation for the services provided by our country’s military personnel.
“Our military and their families have been providing a real service to our country,” said Beth Walterscheidt, president of the National Christmas Tree Association and a Christmas tree farmer from Elgin, Texas. “And, as Christmas Tree farmers, we want them to be able to experience a traditional Christmas with a real tree.”
Launched in 2005 with the help of FedEx Corp., the Troops for Trees program delivered more than 4,300 Christmas trees to five United States military bases, as well as an overseas shipment to the Middle East that year. The program expanded to deliver more than 11,000 trees to 25 bases in 2006.
“Trees for Troops was a huge success,” said Christmas SPIRIT Foundation Chairman Nigel Manley, a Christmas tree grower in Bethlehem, N.H. “It really resonated with our industry and the military.”
Collection and delivery of the trees was scheduled to taken place between the end of November and continue through December. Consumers may make contributions to the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation at www.Christmas SPIRITFoundation.org. Additional information is available at www.TreesforTroops.org.
The Christmas SPIRIT Foundation, based in Chesterfield, Mo., is a not-for-profit foundation that advances the Christmas spirit for children, families and the environment. Trees for Troops is just one of its projects. For more details, go to www.ChristmasSPIRITFoundation.org.
NCTA is the professional organization representing nearly 5,000 farms and retailers engaged in growing and selling real Christmas trees to nearly 30 million consumers. Based in Chesterfield, Mo., NCTA’s mission is to promote the use of real trees and support the industry that provides them. For more information, visit www.realchristmastrees.org.
Richards Christmas Tree Farm is a family-owned business located on the State Road in Mapleton. For 16 years it has been known for producing fresh, quality Balsam Fir Christmas trees.
“We’re also known locally for offering free horse-drawn sleigh rides during the Christmas tree season,” said Richards.
For more information on the farm, visit: richardsxmastrees.com or phone 764-6093.
