LANSDALE, PA — State leaders fanned out across Bustard’s Christmas Trees on Friday, urging Pennsylvanians to donate fresh-cut evergreens to service members and their families as part of the annual Trees for Troops campaign.
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding, First Lady Lori Shapiro, and Maj. Gen. Michael E. Wegscheider, Deputy Adjutant General–Army, joined volunteers and military personnel in cutting trees and loading trucks at one of four statewide donation sites. The event highlighted a program that has delivered more than 309,000 Christmas trees to military families and deployed service members since 2005.
“Our military members who are serving our country, and their families, make a really big sacrifice to keep us all safe,” First Lady Shapiro said, adding that the holidays can be particularly difficult for families separated by deployment. She said she hoped donated trees would bring “a piece of Pennsylvania” to those celebrating far from home.
Redding encouraged residents to honor service members when purchasing their own trees this season. “This weekend is an opportunity for all of us to show gratitude and make the holidays a little brighter for those who serve,” he said.
Trees for Troops, a national program driven by donations, sponsorships, and volunteer work, distributes farm-grown Christmas trees and personal messages to bases across the country and abroad. Pennsylvanians can donate in person or online through Monday, December 8.
This year’s drop-off sites include Strathmeyer Christmas Trees in York, Yenser’s Tree Farm in Lehighton, Bustard’s Christmas Trees in Lansdale, and Kenny’s Christmas Trees in Spring House.
Maj. Gen. John Pippy, head of the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, said the gesture carries emotional weight. “A Christmas tree is more than a holiday tradition—it brings warmth, joy, and connection,” he said. “This act of generosity helps service members stay tied to their families, their traditions, and the comforts of home.”
Friday’s event also highlighted Bustard’s long history in Montgomery County. The family-run business, founded in 1929, has produced award-winning trees that have decorated both the Vice President’s Residence and the White House Blue Room. Partner Jay Bustard called participation in the program “a privilege,” emphasizing the company’s support for military families.
The Trees for Troops effort is overseen by the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation, the charitable branch of the National Christmas Tree Association.
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