Even as the Thornton Lions began setting up their annual Christmas tree stand at the Thornton Crossing Shopping Mall on Saturday morning, motorists were stopping to purchase trees.
“Sales have been brisk,” said John Anderson, club secretary, “and we just opened this morning.”
The Thornton Lions Club, founded in 1950, has been selling Christmas trees “for at least 25 years,” Anderson said, with all of the proceeds going to local charities and causes - mostly to the Thornton Food Bank.
The small club generally raises about $1,500 each year for the food bank, he said.
This year, the Lions have a good supply of Balsam and Fraser Fir trees for $45 apiece, and Scotch Pine for $40. The trees are Ontario-grown, sourced from 'Kriss Kringle’s' own tree lot, in Everett.
Manned by volunteers, the Christmas tree lot, located in the plaza at the intersection of Innisfil Beach Road and County Road 27, is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, but open Wednesdays from 3 to 6 p.m., Thursdays from 3 to 7 p.m., Fridays from 3 to 8 p.m., Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., up until Christmas Eve – or until the Lions sell out.
Trees are generally 5’ to 7’ tall, but there is at least one ten-footer.
“I’d like to see someone buy that one,” said Anderson.
