Dexter Lions Club Christmas Tree Sale Benefits Community Programs

The Dexter Lions Club's big yellow trailer parked outside can only mean one thing: it's Christmas tree time in Dexter.

The club's annual tree sale, which which kicked-off on Nov. 25, is entering its 26th year and serves as the club's primary fundraiser.

"It's something the community looks forward to every year," Lion Larry France said.

France said the club purchases a variety of trees ranging from Douglas Fir to Scotch Pine and Fraser Fir, from a tree farm in Manistee.

"We order around 919 trees and we sell out pretty quick," France said. "The rest of the trees we usually donate a few days before Christmas."

As crowds began gathering on Monday, France said the club already had modest sales during its opening weekend.

"Our sales have been comparible to previous years," France said. "Our prices are decent and we get a lot of compliments on the quality of the trees."

Proceeds from the tree sales help support various programs in Dexter, such as student scholarships and equipment funding for the athletic program. Proceeds also benefit C.S. Mott Children's Hospital in Ann Arbor, the Penrickton Center for the Blind, the Leader Dogs for the Blind program, and the Michigan Braille Transcribing Fund, among others.

"The Lions' mission is to serve the blind and visually impaired, so a lot of our efforts go toward those programs," president Terry Walters said.

France said the yearly tree sales are a true community endeavor.

"When the trees came in this year, we had athletes from the Dexter High School football and lacrosse teams helping us unload and set up the stand," he said. "Now that we're open seven days a week, we have to have someone in the lot all the time, so by the end of the five-week period, we will have put in 1,200 service hours among our club members."

The Lions' Christmas tree stand is open noon to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Trees range in price from $25 to $40.

For more information about the Dexter Lions Club, visit their website, www.dexterlions.org. The Lions Club meets every first and third Thursday of the month at 6:30 p.m. in the cafeteria.