New West firefighters are raising money for charity – one tree at a time.
The New Westminster Firefighters’ Charitable Society is hosting its annual Christmas tree- chipping fundraiser on Saturday, Jan. 4 and Sunday, Jan 5 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“It’s a simple thing, and it gives back to the community in a very positive way,” said Capt. Charles Lister, who is overseeing this year’s event.
The drive-thru-style event takes place in front of New Westminster City Hall, 511 Royal Avenue. Vehicles access the tree-chipping event from the Fourth Avenue side of city hall, via Royal Avenue, at which time firefighters will take the trees to the chipper.
“It is by donation,” Lister said. “We have one of those little squares – a card reader. We will have the boots as well for people who still use cash.”
While the tree-chipping is a drive-thru type event, community members are invited to stop and chat with the city’s firefighters and enjoy popcorn courtesy of G&F Financial.
Trees will be chipped on site.
“The city takes the chips and puts it back into the gardens,” Lister said.
The tree-chipping event raises funds that are dispersed to a a wide variety of community organizations.
“It goes back into the community of New Westminster,” Lister said. “People make applications, and if they meet certain criteria then we give back to all different kinds of charities – some annually and some one-offs, depending on the community’s needs.”
The annual tree-chipping event is one of the charitable society’s longest-running fundraisers. Traditionally, the tree chipping and the paper shred-athon (held in the spring) have been two of the society’s biggest annual fundraisers.
"We are facing challenges with both this and the shred-athon because people are going to artificial trees and some people are going to digital records,” Lister said. “So, we are evaluating right now … what this looks like in the future. It is definitely under the microscope at the moment.”
What is known, however, is the significance that funds raised by the New Westminster Firefighters' Charitable Society have on community organizations in the city.
“There are some programs that cannot exist without our donations,” Lister said.
