43
Ohio Christmas trees headed overseas
By Marc Kovac
COLUMBUS
Christmas tree growers and other volunteers prepared 100 firs and pines, including some from the Mahoning Valley, as part of an annual effort to spread some holiday cheer to military men and women serving overseas.
The Ohio Christmas Tree Association delivered the greenery to the Ohio Department of Agriculture on Thursday, where the trees were inspected, tied and boxed for shipment.
“We’ve been doing this project for a number of years,” said David Daniels, director of the state agriculture department. “These guys are doing something to provide just a little bit of joy to those folk that have gone overseas to serve our country.”
Amy Galehouse from Galehouse Tree Farms in Doylestown, a longtime coordinator of and contributor to the annual effort, said the trees should reach Army troops stationed in Kuwait in time for Thanksgiving.
“They say the morale boost is just incredible,” she said. “We’ve gotten pictures of them decorating the trees.”
Two dozen-plus farms from around the state contributed trees this year. Galehouse’s own business gave a dozen.
Twinsberry Tree Farm in Shreve provided another 10, plus the apparatus used to bundle them for shipment.
Others came from Pioneer Trails Tree Farm in Poland; Bailey’s Christmas Tree Farm in Lordstown; Bradley’s Tree Farm in Vienna; D’Apolito’s Tree Farm in Poland; Stepuk Tree Farm in Canfield; and Storeyland Christmas Tree Farm in Burghill.
Scout and community groups and schoolchildren contributed handmade and store-bought decorations that were included in each package.
A group from Staten Island, N.Y., sent ornaments, as did another from the University of Akron, Galehouse said.