Catford Caring Christmas trees help homeless

All of the organisation's trees are sustainably farmed pic: Brent Flanders

If you buy a Christmas tree from Caring Christmas Trees before Wednesday, you can help homeless people in Lewisham rebuild their lives.

Caring Christmas Trees donates all the profits from the sale of their trees to charities across the UK. All trees bought in south east London raise money for the Jericho Road project, a homeless charity run from Kings Road Church, Catford since 2001.

The charity offers advice and support to homeless people and rough sleepers in the area, offering help with benefits, housing and drug advice. The charity also takes groups away twice a year on activity holidays.

Your contribution will help reduce rough sleeping in Lewisham, help ex-offenders integrate into society, help the mentally ill in the area maintain stability in their lives, and help former addicts to stay clean.

Recently, the project has expanded to include low support housing, sleeping 26 people within six houses in Catford. Rent is kept low to encourage residents to seek work and look for a stable way of life.

Every penny of profits made by Caring Christmas Trees stays in the community and helps local people. Susan Smith, administrator for the organisation, says this is why customers are choosing to buy their trees from the site year after year.

“The profits raised stay in the local are. People who hear about us love the idea – they were going to buy a Christmas tree anyway, and ours cost the same amount and are exceptionally good quality, and they help people”, she said.

So far, 306 trees have been sold in south east London, and 3801 have been sold across the UK. All trees are Nordman Firs, grown in Scotland’s sustainable tree farms. The British Christmas Tree Growers Association, from who the trees are sourced, says: “the trees are as near to 100% carbon neutral as you’ll ever get”.

Trees can be bought in various sizes, from 4ft to 8ft, with prices ranging from £35 to £59. Home delivery costs an extra £6.95. To check your postcode is catered for, click here.

You can also collect your tree from a number of pick up points in Catford, Deptford and Beckenham at a time to suit you.

Volunteers are vital to Caring Christmas Trees in Lewisham to help make sure distribution days run smoothly.  Last year 350 trees were sold and distributed from the Kings Road Church. This year, the charity plan to sell over 400 trees and recruit 80 volunteers who are willing to give up three hours of their day.

To volunteer with the Jericho Road Project please contact dave.barlow@kingschurchlondon.org or call: 0208 690 4646.

Trees should be ordered by Wednesday December 14 to avoid disappointment and ensure delivery in time for Christmas! To read more about the charity, or to buy a tree, go to www.caringchrismastrees.com.

 

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