By Maureen Vander Sanden
Correspondent
For a third season, the Kiwanis Club of Union Grove is giving families the sentimental experience of picking out “the perfect tree” from its old-fashioned tree lot.
The club’s third annual Christmas tree sale, beginning Friday, Nov. 27, will be brightly lit up and stocked with Frasier firs and balsams at the corner of Main Street and Mill Avenue.
Dan Maurice, who chairs the club’s Christmas tree sale, said the Kiwanis recognized a need for the fundraiser after a nearby tree farm stopped selling the fresh iconic seasonal symbols.
“There was no one selling real trees in the area for about five years, so we thought it would be a good fundraiser for the club,” he said.
The initiative, according to Maurice was well-received by the community and “rejuvenated a lot of Christmas spirit” among club members.
“It turned out to be a lot of fun bringing the nostalgic tree lot back to the village,” he said. “And we worked to really make it an experience.”
To achieve that old-time experience, the Kiwanis’ tree lot offers a warming barrel for families to gather around, the sounds of holiday favorites from an antique record player, and serves up hot chocolate and cookies at no cost.
Families are even invited to take a photograph together with a large frame prop against the backdrop of the wintry evergreens.
The lot will be filled with 6-9 foot trees for $50. There will also be a limited selection of 9-12 foot trees for $100. All trees are grown from a Wisconsin farm in Westfield.
With tree purchase, the Kiwanis will cut the stump for fresh feeding, net the tree and even provide delivery at no additional charge.
Maurice says it brings joy to the volunteers to be able to offer real trees at a low price with full service.
“We really have a lot of fun doing this and people in the community seem to really enjoy it,” he said, recalling:
“One year a family called ahead of time, and asked us to make a Charlie Brown tree especially for their parents, then they all came out together to pick it up.”
He added that those special moments really contribute to the tree sale’s success.
In the previous two years the club has sold out of trees before the sale was marked to end. This year, organizers increased the stock by 25 trees, in hopes of getting the same results with the group’s 150 fresh-cut trees.
Maurice credits Dave and Julie from the Moyer Family Farm for helping the club to get the fundraiser up and running.
The Moyers once sold trees from their farm, which lies north of town for nearly two decades.
“They have been our mentors with this fundraiser,” he said.
It takes about 30 volunteers to put on the sale – from those assisting families with picking one out to netting the tree and loading it, according to Maurice.
Proceeds help the Kiwanis continue to give back locally. Each year the club raises about $30,000 and puts those funds right back into the community, Maurice said.
“We want to thank everyone who has supported us in the past and welcome all to come back – even those with a fake tree at home should come on down and enjoy some hot chocolate and visit with us for a bit,” he said.
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