Lynnwood Boy Scouts collect Christmas trees
Published 11:32 pm Saturday, January 3, 2009
LYNNWOOD — The smell of pine needles, smoke and roasting marshmallows filled the afternoon air Saturday.
It was chilly, but Mike Mackay wasn’t afraid of the cold.
The 11-year-old Boy Scout was helping his troop collect old Christmas trees for recycling.
“I don’t mind getting my hands dirty,” Mike said. “And everyone here is so kind. It’s fun.”
It’s fun to drive around neighborhoods with adult leaders, talking to people and picking up Christmas trees, Mike said.
Mike, who joined Troop 304 a couple of months ago, said he was getting to know other Scouts and learning teamwork. “We have to work together to get the trees and put them in the trunk.”
Various Boy Scout troops this weekend set up Christmas tree drop-off locations throughout the county for their annual fundraiser. Some of them are even driving around to pick up old trees from individual neighborhoods.
Several locations will be accepting trees next weekend.
Mike’s troop set up shop on a big empty lot west of Wilcox Park. A sign on 196th Street SW was pointing drivers in the right direction.
By 3 p.m., two huge bins borrowed from a waste management company were filled with Christmas trees.
Danny Harris, 14, climbed into a bin and was helping get another tree inside.
He was wearing big mittens on his hands and a black bandana around his neck.
“It’s a lot of fun because we all get to work together,” Danny said.
Before the recycling begins, Scouts distribute fliers to people in their community, said Scout Master Kevin Harris, who is also Danny’s dad.
The best part about the project is talking to people and sharing memories with former Boy Scouts you get to meet, Harris said. “I think the coolest moment was running into people who were with our troop 25 years ago.”
A lot of people donate to the Scouts during their recycling weekend and come up to them to say a few kind words.
“People are very generous,” Harris said. “They know we are doing this for a good cause.”
The annual recycling event is one of the main fundraisers for the Scouts, said Frank Sexton, assistant Scout master for Troop 312. The other fundraiser, selling popcorn, is in October.
The money from donations helps pay for camping trips and Scout gear, Sexton said.
Scouts of all ages have a blast at the recycling operation, he said. “They enjoy the camaraderie.”
Besides, helping your community is what Scouts are all about.
“It’s a really nice service to the community,” Sexton said. “Some people don’t have a way to dispose of (the trees).”
Lynnwood resident Abi Rendon, 23, was glad he didn’t have to take his tree to the dump this year. “It’s good that they get to reuse them,” he said.
Rendon said he was a Boy Scout himself and likes the idea of supporting the organization.
Reporter Katya Yefimova: 425-339-3452 or kyefimova@heraldnet.com.
How to recycle your tree
To find out when and where to recycle your old tree or how to donate to a Boy Scout troop in your area, go to www.dryneedles.com. To make a donation online, go to www.scoutingfriends.org.
