The Lloydminster Kinsmen Club is selling out their Christmas trees faster than ever.
The Club has brought in 830 trees and started their annual Christmas Tree fundraiser on November 29. The club brought in their last shipment of trees on December 5.
Matt Read, chair of the fundraiser, says the trees are going quick and expects to be sold out early this year.
“There are rumours out there of a tree shortage and some of the bigger centres are seeing the impact of that. We’ve been open for a week and already we’ve sold over half our trees. We’re looking forward to another busy weekend this weekend and we might be on the tail end of it here pretty soon.”
Read says the industry for real Christmas trees has exploded over the last ten years and he isn’t sure why. He suspects nostalgia to play a part in the boom.
“I have one and we enjoy that natural smell of an actual Christmas tree. It brings back that traditional Christmas feeling that a lot of people have, especially people who have grown up in the country, went out, got their own tree and now they’ve moved to the city and don’t have that opportunity. We provide them with something they can bring into their home and remind them of when they were a child.”
Proceeds from the tree fundraiser go towards Lloydminster elementary schools Safe Walk programs, scholarships for both Lloydminster high schools as well as bursaries for Lakeland College students.
“Eight hundred trees is not a small number and to have those repeat customers come back and buy from us. It allows us to do a lot more in the community when we sell out those trees. It allows us to give back more and that’s what we’re really excited about.”
The club aims to raise $15,000 every year they hold the fundraiser. The tree lot is open Monday to Friday from noon to 9 p.m. On Saturdays it will go from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.