Church Christmas Tree Sale Continues to Grow

For the past three years, the Christmas tree sale at Vale United Methodist Church has been used as a fundraiser .

In its fourth year, the church has changed the direction of its philanthropic annual event to have all proceeds benefit Stop Hunger Now, a nonprofit international hunger relief organization, in its effort to build a Northern Virginia warehouse.

"By getting a warehouse here, [Stop Hunger Now] will be able to dramatically increase the number of food packaging events and partners it conducts in this region. So there's a real 'multiplier effect' to this fundraiser," Clint O'Brien, the tree sale's founder, wrote in an email.

The in the last two years.

Vale Church will kick off its fourth annual Christmas tree sale at 9 a.m. today. Tree sale hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays, and 6 to 9 p.m. weekdays.

The tree sale has continued to grow in popularity over the past three years, giving Vale Church reason to increase its inventory. This year, the sale will start with 166 trees — Fraser Fir, Douglas, Canaan and Blue Spruce — with room to order more if they begin to sell well, all with a pre-drilled six-inch hole in the bottom to help those who have a stand which would require it. They will also have 107 wreaths and six rolls (50 feet each) of pine roping for sale.

In addition to upping its inventory, they are expanding their services to customers. For those who would like the extra help in getting the tree from the church lot to their homes, delivery is available on Wednesdays and Sundays. Suggested donation for the delivery is $15.

And, as in the past, customers can enjoy free hot cider and cookies while looking for the perfect tree.

The trees come from South Hill Farms in New York through Fairfax resident Fred Burgess, who sells the trees to churches all over Northern Virginia.

The sale is manned by church volunteers during the week when the sale is open from 6 to 9 p.m. On the weekends, Boy Scouts from Troop 1983 volunteer in an effort to give back to their host church.

For more information contact Vale UMC at 703-620-2594 or Vale.Church@verizon.net.