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Highlands Today

Free Christmas Trees At YMCA

Jasmina Meyer, Highlands Today

From left: Sisters Angelica, 12, and Michaela Malisham, 13, look on as Dave Scheck, Highlands County Family YMCA program director, prepares to lift a fresh Douglas fir into their mother's, Lynn Garcia, trunk on Friday in Sebring. Garcia remarked "when you lose your job anytime it's bad, but when you lose your job this time of year it really stinks". Garcia appreciated the tree that Home Depot donated to the YMCA so much, she gave Scheck a hug after he lifted into her car.

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By JIM KONKOLY

Highlands Today

Published: December 20, 2008

SEBRING - Thanks to the donation by Home Depot, families that can't afford a Christmas tree can pick one up free at the Highlands County Family YMCA.

"We're giving the trees away, so anybody who needs a Christmas tree should just come on out and get one," said Dave Scheck, the Y's program director.

Located on YMCA Lane, off Hammock Road, the YMCA is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, and from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays.

Troy Doty, manager of Home Depot, said the company donates Christmas trees for families in need every year and chose the YMCA to distribute them this year.

"Home Depot has a donation budget every month, and the bottom line is that we always try to do the Christmas trees at this time of the year," he said. "We want to be involved in the community, we want to be able to help."

The YMCA picked up 50 trees from Home Depot and had given away 10 by mid-day on Friday, Scheck said.

The trees are stored on the basketball court, where a sign indicates that donations are welcome.
Scheck said some of the people who picked up trees have made donations, with all the funds collected going to the Strong Kids program, which gives scholarships to children who otherwise couldn't afford to participate in YMCA sports programs.

"Because of the Strong Kids scholarships, for a fee that might be $70 they may only have to pay $7, so it can help substantially," he said.

In at least one case, Scheck knows that a Christmas tree given away was an answer to a prayer. While loading the donated trees onto a truck at Home Depot, he struck up a conversation with a woman passing by as she walked out of the store.

"She said that just before walking into the store, she had prayed that the Lord would make it possible for her to have a Christmas tree," he said.

Highlands Today reporter Jim Konkoly can be reached at 863-386-5855 or e-mail jkonkoly@highlandstoday.com

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