Trees for Troops at Gertens

Collections for Trees for Troops has ended for Christmas 2008.

Gertens is doing much more than providing fresh, fragrant Christmas trees for your holiday enjoyment this year. Gertens is part of a national effort to protect and restore the Spirit of Christmas for kids and families of our military members.

As a way to give back to those who serve our country, Gertens and the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation, in conjunction with FedEx, provides Real Christmas Trees to military members and their families. The Trees for Troops program aims to provide holiday cheer to military families who may be away from their families at Christmas time.

"This is a natural fit for Christmas tree growers and retailers," said Dale Konetschka, General Manager of Gertens, "because kids and families and Christmas trees are all central to the holiday season. We are very proud to be supporting an effort that will make the Christmas season brighter for children and families of our military members and we hope that the Twin Cities' community will join us in this effort."

The Christmas Spirit Foundation was formed in 2005 when the National Christmas Tree Association sponsored questions on a consumer tracking poll that compared participation in holiday activities between 1996 and 2005. The results showed a stunning 20% decline in activities normally considered part of the spirit of Christmas and family holiday traditions.

"People have all kinds of reasons for cutting back on holiday activities," said Nigel Manley, Foundation chairman, and a Christmas Tree grower from Bethlehem, N.H. "But those changes in our lifestyle are taking something away from families and children."

In its first year, the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation provided grants for hurricane relief and, with the support of FedEx Corp., sponsored a Trees for Troops program through which growers donated more than 4,300 Christmas Trees to families of military personnel. Over the past three years 34,000 military families have received a Real Christmas Tree from Trees for Troops. In 2008, we hope to deliver 17,000, if not more.

Consumers can support the work of Foundation by making a donation when they purchase their Real Christmas Tree. Consumers can donate at Gertens, or they can go to www.ChristmasSPIRITFoundation.org to make a donation directly to the Foundation.

"The initial response to our efforts is truly heartwarming," said Konetschka. "The Christmas Spirit not only touches the children and families that receive a Christmas tree but it also touches all of us who give to the program. We urge everyone to get into the Spirit of Christmas, and share a small part of your good fortune with others."

All trees donated by Gertens will go to military families based at Marine Corps Base Camp leJeune in North Carolina. The base and surrounding community is home to an active duty, family member, retiree and civilian employee population of nearly 150,00 people.

The Trees for Troops program is a member of America Supports You, a Department of Defense organization that supports home-front groups who support the troops. The Foundation receives support from individuals and corporations, including Gertens, FedEx, Cost Plus World Market, New Holland Agriculture and Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation.

Collections for Trees for Troops has ended for Christmas 2008.