Christmas Tree Drive returning to Halifax this Saturday

The Parker Street Food and Furniture Bank’s annual tree drive fills festive hampers for families in need.

The annual Halifax Christmas Tree Drive is gearing up to give families in need holiday essentials this season.

The eight-year tradition is done in partnership with MRB Contracting and Parker Street Food and Furniture Bank.

“I’ve been in the north end for 24 or 25 years now. And we started our business here, MRB Contracting, and, so it’s been important to give back to the community that has been so kind to us. We’ve got to do so many projects over the years in the north end. And it’s just a special place for us. Parker Street is an obvious choice to help out this time of year,” says Mike Burns, president of MRB Contracting.

“We work with the Christmas Tree Association of Nova Scotia, and they bring us in these trees and then the MRB crew puts on a full day, and by donation, people can come in and pick their tree. All cash proceeds go directly to Parker Street.”

Romaine Rhoden, the donor and communications director with Parker Street Food and Furniture Bank, says the proceeds help them fund their Christmas hamper program.

“It’s a wonderful program. It’s been around for maybe the last two decades here at Park Street. And what this program does, it helps a lot of people in need across the Halifax regional municipality with the support that they need, to feel dignified and supported and loved during the Christmas season,” he says. “It’s a box filled with Christmas items…and (families) are given a turkey with that. And if they don’t eat turkey, then there’s the option of chicken. Some families are smaller. And then there’s the vegetarian option, because we have a large vegetarian population here as well that we support.

“It’s tremendous in terms of the support that we receive. It shows that there’s a commitment in the Halifax regional municipality to solve food insecurity and to really support those members in the community (who are) less fortunate.”

This year’s tree drive will take place on Saturday at 2454 Creighton St. in Halifax from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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