Area residents came in a steady stream Sunday, sacrificing their used Christmas trees for chipping, in exchange for a donation to the Ridge Meadows Search and Rescue and 1st Haney Rovers. Bryan Moffat and other volunteers fed the cut trees into a chipper donated by Bartlett Tree Experts.
Photograph by: Roxanne Hooper , TIMES
Out of the 700-plus Christmas trees dropped off behind Planet Ice in Albion this past weekend, only a few stray ornaments were found, and volunteers were thankful there were no frosted trees.
Year after year, the Ridge Meadows Search and Rescue (SAR) and 1st Haney Rovers join forces to host a charity tree chipping event over two weekends in early January. Those efforts kicked off last Saturday and Sunday, and will be repeated this weekend, with local residents encouraged to drop off or arrange pickup of their live trees for chipping, with donations shared between the two local causes.
Typically, the four-day program raises between $3,000 and $5,000, explained SAR manager Rick Laing.
While numbers of trees for chipping appear to be down so far, Laing expects participation will pickup Jan. 12 and 13.
Trees can be brought to the search and rescue headquarters at 23598 105th Ave. between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Or, for a minimum $10 donation, residents can arrange curbside pickup by calling 604-244-2850 or emailing scoutchipping@gmail.com.
Robert Jeglum of CB Yard Services sold Christmas trees in the old Mussallem Motors parking lot, at 22289 Lougheed Hwy., during the holidays. He is now hosting a tree chipping event in the same location on Saturday, Jan. 12, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with all money donated also going to search and rescue.
Area residents came in a steady stream Sunday, sacrificing their used Christmas trees for chipping, in exchange for a donation to the Ridge Meadows Search and Rescue and 1st Haney Rovers. Bryan Moffat and other volunteers fed the cut trees into a chipper donated by Bartlett Tree Experts.
Photograph by: Roxanne Hooper , TIMES
