The Youth Center will be opening their 15th annual Christmas tree sale lot beginning Nov. 24 to Dec. 19 in the Ganahl Lumber parking lot at 10742 Los Alamitos Blvd. in Los Alamitos. Hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends, and 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays. All proceeds will go to benefiting children in and around Los Alamitos.
“The whole community raises funds to support the kids locally,” said Youth Center Executive Director Lina Lumme,
Five dollars for every tree sold goes to local Los Alamitos Schools with each school receiving about $200 to $1,000. Los Alamitos High School baseball booster club usually gets $10,000 to $14,000, while their basketball booster club usually getting $1,000, she said.
The Los Alamitos High School marching band receives $1,500, according to Lumme. Also, $500 goes to every local PTA with members who volunteer at the tree lot each weekday including St. Hedwig School, Los Alamitos Elementary, Rossmoor Elementary and Weaver Elementary, she said.
“We have 350 volunteers who help put this together, but we are always looking for more,” said Lumme. “We are sponsored by Ganahl Lumber and Leone Electric.”
Douglas, Nobel, Grand and Nordman trees are for sale. Starting on Nov. 24, Noble trees are selling at $39 for a four-to-five foot tree, with same-sized Douglas trees selling at $24 beginning Dec. 2. There will also be wreaths, garland, wreath hangers, tree watering spouts, tree stands and mistletoe sold, as well.
“One hundred percent of the proceeds will fund programs designed to help kids stay out of trouble,” said Lumme. “All trees are freshly cut and watered, coming straight from Oregon, and are kept under our gigantic tent, well protected.”
“Some sell trees for profit,” continued Lumme. “We sell trees for kids.”
Since 1952, the Youth Center has served more than 88,000 kids ages 7 to 17 who reside in Los Alamitos, Rossmoor, Seal Beach, Cypress, Long Beach and surrounding areas. The Youth Center offers a free After School Drop-In Program, Learning Center, Music Classes, Summer Day and Teen Camps, and also programs to deter drunk driving with their Safe Rides and Every 15 Minutes Programs.
“Every year, we sell about 2,500 trees, and this is one our biggest fundraisers,” said Lumme. “But this is the biggest in terms of youth volunteers and number of youth organizations raising funds for different community programs.”
Complimentary hot chocolate or apple cider, candy canes, coloring books with crayons, and holiday music will also be at the tree lot sale. For more information or to volunteer, please call the Youth Center at 562-493-4043 or visit online at TheYouthCenter.org.