The Optimist Club of Hays has opened its annual Christmas Tree lot in the Hays Walmart parking lot.  There were 220 trees (which ranged in size from 4 – 8 feet) purchased for this year’s sale, and the lot will remain open until all trees are sold.  As of Friday, December 6th there were just under 100 trees left.

Four tree varieties were ordered: Scotch pines, Frasier furs, Balsam furs and Douglas furs.  The lot is open seven days a week; open from 3:00 pm – 8:00 pm Monday through Friday and 10:00 am – 8:00 pm on weekends.

The Optimist Club of Hays has held an annual tree lot since the 1970’s. John Sjoholm told Hays Post that he and Mike Flax are coordinating volunteer efforts for the lot. He says that there are between 20-25 people giving back to the youth of the community.”

“It’s totally volunteer; and all of the proceeds go to the local organizations that we contribute to.”

Proceeds from the tree sale are used to fund a variety of projects involving area youth, including:

• The annual dictionary giveaway to 6th grade students
• The Hays Arts Council
• Toys for Tots
• Hays High School
• TMP project graduations
• The annual outdoor youth festival
• The Howard Reynolds Nature trail
• The Hay Public Library