Eckert’s announces ‘The Giving Tree’: Free live Christmas trees to those in need
Eckert’s Christmas Trees at the Pick-Your-Own Farm in Belleville, Ill. (Photo courtesy Eckert’s)
As local tree lot owners report tight supply, Eckert’s uses its abundance of pre-cut trees for good
Eckert’s Farm, the family farm and country store, announces “The Giving Tree,” a community giving initiative that’s focused on donating holiday trees to those in need this season.
With an abundance of trees still available at the cut-your-own tree farm, Eckert’s has pre-cut 50 trees and will donate them, entirely free of charge, to 50 local individuals or families in need.
Eckert’s is calling out to the community to help identify those in need of receiving a live tree by Christmas. Simply head to Eckert’s social media post about The Giving Tree on its Facebook or Instagram, and tag a person in need of a free tree. Eckert’s will select and contact 50 people from the post on social media to receive their tree. The individual is responsible for transportation of the tree from Eckert’s Belleville Farm to their preferred location, but the cost of the tree will be covered by Eckert’s.
WHEN: Submit for a free tree by midnight on Thursday, Dec. 14. Winners are contacted directly for tree pick-up at Eckert’s on Monday, Dec. 18 by 7 p.m.
WHERE: Eckert’s Farm | 951 S. Green Mount Rd Belleville, IL 62220
WHY: The Giving Tree is rooted in Eckert’s commitment to nurturing communities and sowing the seeds of positivity and care for people and the planet. Eckert’s hopes to provide 50 individuals and families who may be facing challenges or hardships with the opportunity to bring holiday magic to their homes, free of charge. Trees symbolize growth, hope, and the promise of a better tomorrow, and through this initiative, the family farm aims to provide a sense of renewal and resilience for anyone in need.
Eckert’s Farm will also operate its Cut-Your-Own Tree farm through Dec. 23. The cost per tree is $65 (plus tree farm access tickets per person). It is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Tuesday through Sunday and reservations are not required.
Eckert’s Inc. is the largest family-owned and operated pick-your-own orchard in the United States. Originally established as a farm and simple roadside stand in Illinois, the Eckert family now owns and operates farming, entertainment and retail entities in Belleville, Grafton and Millstadt, Ill., as well as most recently, Versailles, Ky. For a century, Eckert’s has been a local source for agricultural products including asparagus, beets, zucchini, kale, squash, onions and peppers, strawberries, blackberries, peaches, apples and pumpkins, and more. Guests of Eckert’s farms get to experience the farming practices firsthand with the farms’ pick-your-own produce experiences during growing seasons. Today, Eckert’s offers year-round programming for all at their farms and Country Store. For more information, visit www.eckerts.com Follow on social media @eckertfarms on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.
