For 60 years, the Optimist Club of Jefferson City has been selling Christmas trees to raise funds for youth programs the club sponsors.
Club member Ralph Biele said this year they'll have 600 trees to sell at the Carpenters Building at the corner of Dunklin and Broadway streets, where the lot has operated for 60 years.
"I've been involved in this for 22 years, and I didn't know anybody when I started, so I went inside the building and asked, 'Do we need permission to be here?' and the man just told me nobody ever asked - it's just always been here," Biele said. "The folks who work here like it because of all the lights and the trees have a pleasant smell."
The trees on the lot this year are from Michigan, North Carolina and Nova Scotia, Canada.
"We try to be done by around Dec. 18," Biele said. "We usually have about 10 left, so we call organizations such as The Salvation Army and let them know when we're ready to go that there are a few left and if they know of people wanting a tree they can come pick them up."
The trees are 4-12 feet tall, with the average tree being 6-7 feet. Biele said he doesn't notice any difference in sales if economic times are good or bad - if people really want a tree, they'll come get one.
"It's become a tradition, with many people telling us they came here as kids to get a tree and now they bring their kids or grandkids out," he said.
It takes a lot of work to set up the trees on the lot. Members of the Jefferson City Jays baseball team were helping the club Friday.
"A lot of us in the club are getting up there, so it's great to have the help," Biele said. "This is our biggest fundraiser of the year."
Trees cost $20-$150, and all the money raised stays in Jefferson City.
"I think that's why people keep coming - because they know it's helping the local kids," Biele said. "I don't get many of the $150 trees, but I'll have people calling me early asking if we'll have some."
For example, the Optimists run the finals for the Pinewood Derby for the Cub Scouts. They also provide dictionaries for all fourth-grade students in parochial and public schools, as well as give money for Project Graduation events at all area high schools.
In his time working at the lot, Biele said, there have been several unusual requests.
"There was a lady probably 80-90 years old who asked for a 4-foot cedar tree," he said. "I told her we don't sell cedar trees, but she wanted one because that's what she had when she was growing up. She asked where she could buy one, and I told her I would check with my buyer and told her to come back tomorrow. After she left, I grabbed one of the other guys and we went to a farm on U.S. 54 and asked a farmer if we could cut down a tree, and he said sure. So we cut it down and brought it back. The lady came back, and I told her my buyer had one tree left and sent it. She asked how much she owed, and I told her no charge because we were able to get it with the rest of the lot we bought.
"I told the guys that as long as she's alive she'd come back. And sure enough, she was back next year, and we went back out and got her another tree."
As you would expect, Biele said, there also have been many stories that tug on the heartstrings.
"We had a lady stop on a cold day with no coat on and shower shoes, and you could tell she didn't have any money," he said. "She said, 'I've got two little girls, and they've got $5. Can they get a tree?' I told her sure and had the girls pick out the tree they thought Santa Claus would leave the most presents under. I thought they'd pick out a $100 tree, but it wouldn't have made any difference. They picked out one, and we wrapped it and put in their car. We didn't take her $5.
"Our motto is 'friend of youth,' so if we can't give a tree away for a kid for Christmas, what are we doing here?"