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Scouts BSA Troop 43 Christmas Tree Sales Return in New Location

11/17/2021

Press Release

November 15, 2021
Contact:
Kent D. Newton
Committee Chair
BSA Scout Troop 43
kentdnewton@ymail.com
217-521-9397

Kevin Johnson, Scout Master
scoutmaster.troop43mtz@gmail.com
(217) 358-7796

For Immediate Release

Scouts BSA Troop 43 Christmas Tree Sales Return in New Location

Decatur, IL - Scouts BSA Troop 43 will return to its annual Christmas Tree Sales beginning Friday, November 26 through the month of December at their new location in the El Corral Parking lot at the Decatur Plaza Shopping Center located on 7065 E Highway 36. The hours of operation are Monday through Thursday between 1:00 and 9:00 PM, and on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday between 9:00 AM and 9:00 PM. The stand will be stocked with white pine, Scotch pine, and Fraser fir. Pine tree prices begin at $25, and fir tree prices start at $35 and increase with the length measured on-site by the Scouts. Scouts BSA Troop 43’s Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, Caj Reid, a freshman at Mt Zion High School, said, “Selling trees is one of the most fun activities we do. The troop was really disappointed not to sell last year [due to COVID], but we are really looking forward to teaching the new scouts how the stand runs.”

Troop 43 has been selling Christmas trees since 1992, but made the joint decision with the Venturing Crew 343 to cancel sales in the 2020 season for the first time in their history out of concern for the safety of the Scouts and our community amidst the COVID mitigation restrictions. The fundraiser provides numerous opportunities for Scouts to provide a service to their community and earn money to support their outdoor experiences, purchase camping supplies, and pay for awards and administrative costs for hundreds of youths in the Mt. Zion area. There are currently 41 active Scouts, 33 registered Adult Leaders, and 10 Crew members.

Becky Newton, Scouts BSA Troop 43 New Member Coordinator and Christmas Tree Fundraiser Committee Chairperson, stated, “We appreciate our many return customers and look forward to seeing everyone in our new (bigger) location.”