PIERCE COLLEGE : Christmas Tree Donations Wanted

The Associated Students Organization and the Foundation for Pierce College are asking people to purchase living Christmas trees and donate them to the college after the holidays.

Donors will be eligible for a charitable tax deduction in the amount paid for the tree, said Esther Kenyon, foundation executive director.

The trees will be planted around the Pierce College campus, she said.

Student representative Bill Clark said he began the tree project this year in hopes that it will become an annual tradition.

“We’ve taken for granted that we must chop down a tree to bring holiday warmth into the house, while a little foresight would help us bring a living tree into the house and later be able to plant it,” he said.

“Vast numbers of trees are being cut and sold each year. It’s staggering. Although the trees are planted for that specific reason, like crops, why couldn’t we use Christmas trees to reforest, to enhance our landscape and enrich our native shrubbery?”

Clark said he has had living Christmas trees in his home for the last 12 holiday seasons. “It’s a little more effort to bring a living tree into the house because of the pot, but with a little creativity you can hide the pot.”

He said he will ask local municipal governing boards to pass an ordinance that would require all Christmas trees used in public displays to be living.

Living trees can be purchased at most plant nurseries, Clark said.

Clark also requested support for the Christmas tree project from Joe Cicero of Cicero Farms, because he sells living trees.

But Cicero, who at one time had 40 living trees for sale, said he “was sold out by the time they called me. I don’t usually sell that many. I’ve never seen them go that fast. I usually get stuck with three or four when the season is over.”

Cicero is a farmer who leases land from Pierce College. He operates a tree lot there during the holidays.

People who wish to donate living trees should bring the tree and receipt of purchase to the foundation office on campus between Jan. 4 and 15. Additional information is available at (818) 703-0826.