MASON, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – As families across Michigan gather to celebrate Christmas, acts of generosity this season are reaching beyond living rooms and dinner tables, helping brighten the holidays for service members and their families – including those at Selfridge Air National Guard Base.

Earlier this month, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) joined the Michigan Christmas Tree Association at Tannenbaum Farms in Mason for a Trees for Troops event, a nationwide effort that delivers free, real Christmas trees to military families.

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Trees for Troops, now in its 21st year, is run by the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation with support from FedEx Freight. The program relies on donated trees, sponsors, grants, and volunteers to ensure military families – often far from home during the holidays – can still gather around a Christmas tree of their own.

Michigan farms played a major role again this year. Tannenbaum Farms, along with Dutchman Tree Farms in Manton and Wahmhoff Farms Nursery in Gobles, collectively donated about 1,000 trees, all grown right here in Michigan.

On Christmas morning, as lights glow and gifts are opened, those efforts matter. Sometimes, the most meaningful presents aren’t wrapped – they’re grown, shared, and freely given to the men and women who spend their days protecting our freedom.