Aunt Leah’s celebrates 20 years of selling Christmas trees for a cause

It may still be November, but the signs of Christmas are quickly popping up everywhere.

Aunt Leah’s Tree Lots opened today in four locations across Metro Vancouver, celebrating 20 years of using all proceeds from tree sales to fund programs that support foster children transitioning out of the system.

“When you turn 19 they usually kick you out,” said Andii Fine, who volunteers at one of the lots each December.

Fine was homeless from 14 to 16 and in a foster home from 16 to 19. She’s thankful for Aunt Leah’s for providing support in the months after she became independent – and says she’s learned plenty on the tree lot as well.

“I learned great customer service, I learned how to do cash, how to stock and reload all the trees. And a I learned a lot of personal one-on-one connections and how to sell trees to fit the person’s ideal look,” she said.

“With Aunt Leah’s, it’s taught me how to keep a home, how to clean and cook and shop and how to have life skills so I can work.”

Paul Stewart, a manager with Aunt Leah’s, supports people buying their trees from any charity lot because the money goes directly to good causes.

As for what to do with your tree when you get home?

“A litre a day keeps the needles away,” he says, adding that tree bottoms start to seal over about an hour after they’re cut.

Stewart says the fact it’s November shouldn’t stop people from getting their tree of choice.

“The more expensive tree will last. The cheaper tree, your Douglas Fir, your grand fir, they will definitely dried out by Christmas and have quite a lot of needle drop,” he says.

For the full list of Aunt Leah tree lots, click here.