Save room at the top for either an angel or a star
By Rochelle Moore
Published in News on November 26, 2017 3:05 AM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Jim Murray trims up the bottom of a tree for a family at the Optimist Club tree lot Saturday. Murray has been a member of the club for about 20 years.
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Alyssa Price helps her father, Jim, pick out a tree Saturday at the Optimist Club tree lot. This year the club has four weeks to sell the trees instead of the three weeks they've had over the past years. They are also giving a discount to returning customers who signed up for emails last year.
Several Christmas tree lots are fully stocked and prepared to offer a variety of Fraser firs for the holiday season.
Traditionally, most people seek out their favorite tree the day after Thanksgiving, even though two area lots were already open prior to the holiday.
The Goldsboro Optimist Club tree lot, along Cashwell Drive, and the St. Luke United Methodist Church lot on Wayne Memorial Drive, near Immediate Care, opened the Saturday before Thanksgiving.
Beth Cauley stopped by the Optimist lot Wednesday and ordered three wreaths, which are made from fresh branch clippings.
"I always do wreaths for my grandparents from the Optimist Club so they can enjoy them the whole season," she said. "It's a good cause. It's a double dose. You get to spread some Christmas cheer for a good cause."
The Optimist Club sells trees each year as a fundraiser, which supports a variety of youth programs in the Wayne County area.
"This is our only fundraiser and we put a lot of time into this," said Bill Edgerton, with the Goldsboro Optimist Club. "All of the profit we make goes into our youth programs and all of us working out here are volunteers. We enjoy doing it."
The lot has a variety of Fraser firs, ranging in size from 5 to 15 feet in height, and priced from $30 to $300. Before a tree leaves the lot, the bottom is cut and branches are trimmed.
"We try to compete with the major stores," Edgerton said. "We've got some trees that are $30 up to about $300."
Christmas wreaths are sold in three different sizes, 12, 16 and 20 inch, for $20, $25 and $30. Christmas tree stands are also available.
The lot, which is stocked with 350 trees this year, is expected to sell out, with plans to close by Dec. 16, if not earlier.
"We're hoping to be done by the 16th of December," he said. "As soon as we sell out, we close up."
The Goldsboro Optimist Club lot is open Monday through Friday from noon to 9 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The St. Luke UMC lot, which is stocked with 275 trees this year, is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Tree sales also support local charitable efforts, which offer help to the needy and children, and missions.
"Our church does it every year," said Billy Reeves. "It's a fundraiser for our church. It goes to our church and back into the community."
The lot has trees in sizes ranging from 5 to 6 feet in height, which sell for $45, to 11 to 12 foot tall trees, which are sold for $200.
"We've got Fraser firs anywhere from 5 to 6 feet on up to 11 to 12 feet, maybe a few up to 14 feet," Reeves said. "We've been selling out every year."
Twelve and 16-inch wreaths are also sold for $15 and $20, and tree stands are available.
The church, which in previous years set up a lot across from Harris Teeter, moved down Wayne Memorial Drive, across from Wayne UNC Health Care. The lot was donated at no cost to the church by Wayne Pharmacy, Reeves said.
Some delivery options are available, as well as other services.
"We can do some deliveries, we give them a fresh cut and we put the tree stands on the trees," Reeves said. "We do whatever we can to promote and sell them."
Ham's Christmas tree lot is also open at the corner of Sunburst Drive and Royall Avenue.