Daniken Tree Farm is donating Real Christmas Trees as part of the nationwide Trees for Troops program, sponsored by the Illinois Christmas Tree Association , the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation and FedEx Corp.
This holiday season, Trees for Troops is expected to collect and deliver more than 16,000 Real Christmas Trees from 29 states to military families across the United States, as well as to soldiers serving overseas. Consumers will also have the opportunity to purchase trees to donate to the program at various FedEx trailer drop locations across the nation. Daniken Tree Farm is participating this year in the Trees For Troops Weekend Dec. 5-7. FedEx will drop two trailers at the farm to be filled with 300 trees for delivery to the Army base at Ft. Riley Kansas on Monday Dec. 8. If you would like to participate, come out to the farm and donate $20 to add a tree on one of the trailers. Area veterans organizations have contributed over half the necessary funds for the trees. VFW, American Legion and Marine Corps League members will be on hand this weekend to assist in handling donations and loading trees.
"Our military and their families have been providing a real service to our country," says Mark Steelhammer, president of the National Christmas Tree Association and a Christmas Tree farmer from Rochester, WA. "And, as Christmas Tree farmers, we want them to be able to experience a traditional Christmas with a Real Tree."
The Trees for Troops program was launched in 2005, and with the help of FedEx Corp., delivered more than 4,300 Christmas Trees to five U.S. military bases, as well as an overseas shipment to the Middle East that year. Since 2005 the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation and FedEx have delivered over 34,000 Real Trees to military families at over 40 bases in 17 countries. Since 2005 FedEx has driven over 90,000 over-the-road miles to deliver trees to deserving military families. During the same period Daniken Tree Farm, along with its customers and friends, have donated 480 trees to the tree drive.
"Trees for Troops has been a huge success and continues to grow," says Christmas SPIRIT Foundation chairman Nigel Manley, a Christmas Tree grower in Bethlehem, N.H. "It has really resonated with our industry and the military."
Daniken Tree Farm has participated in the program from its beginning. Just like the actual program, our part has grown rapidly in its short life.
2005 - After a last minute phone call we donated 15 trees valued at $400.
2006 - Much more organization and planning was committed to the campaign. We donated 35 trees valued at $1,000 and raised funds in partnership with the Marine Corps League for another 180 trees worth $4500. We also became the pickup location for loading all the donated trees in Southern Illinois.
2007 – We donated 50 trees valued at $1,500 and raised funds for 200 trees worth almost $6,000.
We are donating 60 trees and raising funds for another 250 to send out over 300 trees.
You can help us say Thank You and Merry Christmas to our military men and women and their families. If you would like to get involved, choose one of the four easy options listed below.
$20 will buy 1 tree at our wholesale price to be included in our 300 tree fundraising drive. If you would like to participate send a check made to: Lincoln Land Leathernecks and mail to 406 Stephen, Greenville, IL 62246.
Donate any amount while you are getting your tree at Daniken Tree Farm. Look for the Trees For Troops jar by the cash register.
Visit us on Trees For Troops Weekend Dec.5-7. Help the veterans volunteering to sell trees and load them onto the FedEx trailers.
Donate online at www.treesfortroops.org
A year at Daniken Tree Farm | Choosing the perfect tree | Real tree care
Balled & burlapped tree care | Gift Shop | Award winning trees | Price list
About us | Directions | Toys for Tots | Trees for Troops | Home
