FedEx Sends 17,000 Fresh Christmas Trees to Troops

FedEx is spreading holiday cheer to America’s service members and their families this season with a special delivery of more than 17,000 freshly cut Christmas trees.

Now in its ninth year, Trees for Troops brings together tree farmers across America with FedEx to transport thousands of real Christmas trees to service members stationed overseas, and on military bases in the U.S.

The initiative kicked off today in Thorntown, Indiana, where FedEx volunteers are helping prepare 250 trees, donated by members of the Indiana Christmas Tree Growers Association, to be shipped to service members stationed in Afghanistan and elsewhere in the Middle East.

“We often feel like we’re playing ‘Santa’ during the holiday season for so many of our customers,” said the president and CEO of FedEx Freight, Bill Logue. “But the delivery of these Christmas trees to our men and women in uniform is one of our most treasured traditions.”

Beginning Dec. 3 FedEx Freight will hit the road with more than 17,000 fresh-cut trees addresses to U.S. military bases around the country. Members of the National Christmas Tree Association donate thousands of fresh trees for the project every year through its philanthropic arm, the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation.

Since the Trees for Troops program launched in 2005, FedEx has shipped more than 122,000 freshly cut trees to service members and their families at more than 60 bases in 17 countries.

The public can support the program by donating or purchasing fresh trees during the weekend of Dec. 6-8. Donated trees will be added to the program’s planned deliveries to U.S. bases during 2013. Get that information at www.treesfortroops.org.