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TRISHA MURPHY/Palatka Daily News – Steve Burkowske, the site director for Buy A Tree Change A Life – Palatka, gets ready to trim a Christmas tree that will be for sale at Open Door Church of God, 3704 Crill Ave. in Palatka.
All Christmas trees are perfect in the eyes of the beholder and one local church has many options so people in the community can find the right one.
Steve Burkowske is the site director for Buy A Tree Change A Life – Palatka, a fundraising program to benefit, in part, a local charitable organization.
“This is our third year doing this fundraiser,” said Burkowske, lead pastor at Open Door Church of God in Palatka. “Combined, our first two years we raised $22,000.”
Burkowske said half of the funds raised those first two years went to orphanages and schools in Guatemala and Cambodia, while the other half went to Feed the Need of Putnam County, A Women’s Resource Center, Young Life Putnam County, Rodeheavers Boys Ranch and other local organizations.
According to Burkowske, 250 Fraser firs arrived at the church on Nov. 20 at 3704 Crill Ave. in Palatka, from a tree farm in North Carolina and were available for sale beginning Nov. 24.
Tree sizes range from tabletop, 5-6 feet, 6-7 feet and 7-8 feet, with the latter being sold out. Prices range from $50 to $115.
Regular-sized wreaths are $10, stacks of firewood are available by donation and bundles of greenery will be sold with the cost depending on the amount purchased.
“The tree farms did not have as many taller trees this year so our inventory was lower on those sizes,” Burkowske said. “They are beautiful, fragrant trees. The needles are two-toned, dark green on top and light green underneath. We also have some wreaths available for sale that are made from the trimmings as we sell the trees.”
Sale hours are from 3-8 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and from noon – 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. People who stop by between 3–7 p.m. today can visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus with no purchase necessary.
The tree sale is scheduled to run through Dec. 8 or until the trees are sold out.
Burkowske said 90 trees had been sold as of Friday morning, leaving just over 160 left to sell.
“We have had a lot of return customers, some having bought a tree from us all three years,” he said.
Burkowske said he is working very hard to not make this event just about selling trees and instead wants to provide a fun, family experience for everyone who buys a tree this time of year.
“We have a photo op area set up, great stories about past years’ trees are shared and offer special events with Santa and Mrs. Claus,” he said. “We have posted pictures on our social media accounts where we see a lot of interaction and sharing. Some folks hang out and have some of our coffee and Little Debbie Christmas Tree cakes. At the end of it all, we get to watch families literally take home a life-changing tree.”
Artist E.J. Nieves of Ocala created a live “Lion of Judah” mixed media painting on a 3-foot-by-4-foot canvas Friday evening. He has agreed to donate the painting to raise more money for kids through a silent auction that will begin after he completes his work.
“I wanted to be able to do something with the painting for the community,” he said. “One of my life mantras is ‘build bridges, not kingdoms.’ I really do want to start building a bridge from Ocala to Palatka in the arts.”
The silent auction will be open for anyone to bid during the tree sale operating hours. The winning bidder will be called and it will be announced on the church’s Facebook page.
This year’s beneficiaries haven’t been determined yet, Burkowske said, noting a lot depends on how much money is raised.
“We certainly want to spread the blessing as far as it can go, but we also want to make sure that whatever we do makes an impact on the charity and the community,” he said. “It is possible that we will give some funds again to some of the charities we have already given to but we are always looking for new charities to help out as well.”
Burkowske said the main criterion that is gone by is that the charity has to benefit children or youth in some way.
“At this time, we have considered partnering with a new startup recreation sports league (Upward Sports) that intends to bring baseball and softball to children in the city of Palatka,” he said. “We may be able to help with purchasing startup equipment for the league or offer scholarships to children who might otherwise not be able to participate in recreational sports. There are other charities we are looking at, but I hesitate to mention the names of those organizations until we know what funds are raised.”
Burkowske said the No. 1 reason Open Door Church of God has partnered with the national Buy A Tree Change A Life is to make a difference in the lives of children. This year, 69 churches in 21 states are rallying their communities, government officials, sponsors and local businesses around this project.
“We believe in supporting efforts to improve the lives of kids around the world and right here in our own community,” he said. “But we also believe in building community. Buy A Tree Change A Life is an opportunity to bring the community together for a common purpose, to bless our younger generations.”
Burkowske said he is thankful for the tree sale volunteers, many of whom are from his church.
“We get nothing out of this effort except the joy that comes with serving the community in such a way,” he said. “We solicit other community sponsors not only to help offset the expenses, but to give them an opportunity to be a part of something so significant.”
Burkowske believes every charity and nonprofit works tirelessly to raise enough funds and resources throughout the year, sometimes barely getting by.
“What we are able to do is come alongside an already established charity and help them out with something extra and unexpected,” he said. “And what better time of year than at Christmas?”
