Christmas Trees are Coming December 4-24
Update on 12/23: The Trees are Almost Gone!
For more than 60 years, Follen has turned its parking lot into a magic scene of fragrant balsam firs, colored lights, and good cheer. It cannot be done without your participation. Selling trees is a great way to get outdoors with the family, find your own tree, and engage in community service with other Follenites.
We are expecting trees to be delivered Dec 4, and we will need lots of help to price and tag trees on Saturday Dec 4. We will also need people to volunteer to sell trees in 2 hour blocks from Dec 4 through Dec 24. Signups are here.
In addition to selling trees, in collaboration with local family service agencies Follen has provided coupons that can be exchanged for any tree in the lot. This program helps families that might not otherwise be able to afford a Christmas tree to be able to partake in this fun holiday tradition. Last year donations at the tree lot far exceeded the cost of the trees we gave to families in need. We provided $3000 to our Social Justice Action Team to be used to support food security programs in our local area.
Consider donating to the Follen Free Trees program online (select ‘Give to Christmas Trees’) Funds raised through Follen’s Christmas Trees Sales will be used to support food insecurity agencies in our community. We currently work with Foodlink in Arlington, Healthy Waltham and Bristol Lodge in Waltham. Foodlink rescues surplus fresh food that would otherwise be wasted and deliver it to community organizations throughout Eastern Massachusetts. Healthy Waltham coordinates a bi-weekly food pantry, neighborhood satellite pantries and direct food deliveries to families through a network of local partners. Bristol Lodge provides free nightly meals, a weekly food pantry and a monthly mobile market.
More info on 2021 sales is here. More on the history is here.