Mahoney's Reopens, Launches 2012 Trees for Troops Effort

Mahoney's Garden Center in Wayland is back open for the holiday season and it's jumping right into the holiday giving with another year of hosting Trees for Troops.

Mahoney's locations throughout Massachusetts are serving as the hub for the Trees for Troops program in the Commonwealth. Trees for Troops allows individuals to purchase a holiday tree that will donated to a military family serving in the U.S. or overseas.

A press release from Mahoney's relays a message from a previous recipient, quoted from the Trees for Troops website:

“I wanted to thank you deeply for the tree that you gave me and my family for Christmas this year. My husband is currently serving in Afghanistan and I knew that the holidays were going to be especially hard on me and my two children. All of our Christmas things are in storage, so I thought we weren't going to be able to have a tree or any decorations this year. When I found out about Trees for Troops I couldn't have been more excited, because now our holiday will be just a little bit brighter because of your generosity. Thank you.”

To participate, individuals can visit Mahoney's and purchase a tree for $24.50. Each participant will also have the opportunity to write a personal message on a special tree card.

Those wishing to donate by phone can do so by calling the Trees for Troops hotline at (781) 721-4691.

“We’re very excited about the new Trees for Troops Hotline,” said Paul Waxman, director of marketing for Mahoney’s Garden Centers, in a press release. “Last year we learned that many people would have loved to donate a tree, but where too busy to drive to one of our stores. So now they can just call and charge one on a credit card.”

The program ends on Sunday, Dec. 2. At that time, Mahoney's will collect all the trees and cards and prepare them for shipment via FedEx. Last year's trees went to military families all along the east coast, and this year's trees will take a similar path including some that will go to the Boston Coast Guard Station, according to the press release.