NEW ORLEANS — In a city that has faced so much, New Orleanians understand the importance of helping others, and with Christmas seven days away, the holiday spirit is alive and well.
50 Christmas trees, packed on to trucks, ready for delivery. Real Christmas trees are very special, whether you get them for the scent, the look or the symbolism. But lets face it not all of us can afford them. So to help spread the Christmas cheer, Harold's Plants is donating Christmas Trees to those in need.
Kurt LeBlanc, owner of Harold's says he didn't want to see these trees that he had trucked in from North Carolina go to waste. He said, "There's nothing worse than seeing a couple of hundred trees piled up on the side of the road."
He went on to say, "This year we were able to get a great selection of Christmas trees, from 5 footers to 12 footers." He says as the cost of living goes up, fewer people opted for a real tree this year.
"Well, I think people are definitely watching their money... Christmas tree prices have gone up in the past and every year they go up and up and up," he said.
So he teamed up with Klie Kliebert from Imagine Water Works - an agency focused on climate justice and disaster response - to distribute these trees to those in need. Kliebert said, "I grew up in a family that had a tree, every year we did what we could to get one."
Kliebert went on to say, "Hoping to get out about 50 trees along with other supplies that we had on hand, so we have new puzzles donated by culture aid Nola, we have nutritional shakes for kids and some colouring books."
Those who get a free tree will also get information on how they can recycle them to help with the coastal restoration project.
Whether it's the laughter, the ornaments or the memories woven through it's branches, a family's Christmas tree fills every home with holiday magic.
If you are interested in getting a real Christmas tree, you can get one tomorrow between 1-4pm at the Imagine Works farm, on Painters Street in New Orleans.
There will also be another tree giveaway on Sunday at Harold's Plants in the Bywater.