Tree collection ends Saturday

Kalispell residents have one last weekend to drag their old Christmas trees out to the curb and have them picked up for disposal by volunteers with Easthaven Baptist Church.

Volunteers will make their third and final tree-collection tour on Saturday, Jan. 26. They made a first round on Jan. 12 and a second on Jan. 19.

The trees are hauled to a central collection site where the city of Kalispell can chip them. Chips will be offered to the public later this spring and summer or used for the city’s own projects if no one wants them.

More than 600 trees were collected by about 20 church volunteers during the first round of tree collection.

“One guy with a pickup and a trailer and some helpers did 240 all by themselves,” said a volunteer who asked not to be identified.

“We don’t want the individual recognition,” the volunteer said. “You can use the church’s name but we’re just doing it to help the community and for the work of the Lord now.”

The annual volunteer effort started four years ago when the city of Kalispell was having major financial troubles and facing layoffs.

“We thought we’d volunteer to help the community and pick up some Christmas trees when the time comes. We enjoy the heck out of it, so it’s worked great. It saves some hourly rates for them and it blesses us,” the volunteer said.

Christmas trees put out for curbside collection must be free of all ornaments, stands, tinsel, garland and other decorative items so they can be chipped. People also are asked to place trees standing up if at all possible so they don’t freeze into the snow.

Reporter Tom Lotshaw may be reached at 758-4483 or by email at tlotshaw@dailyinterlake.com.