LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) - A northeast Kansas man is spreading holiday cheer by giving free Christmas trees to people in need.
Rex Powell is inviting people onto his land about 10 miles southwest of Lawrence to pick out the perfect tree, the News-Press reported . Visitors can then chop down the tree themselves and bring it home free of charge.
“I grew up with wild Western red cedars,” Powell said. “That was the only Christmas tree we had at the time and people consider them a pest now and they’re trying to get rid of them from their fields. They grow around here, but I thought it would be nice to let people who want something to have a free one. “
Powell has lived at Burton’s for decades.
“I built this house, slowly, slowly, a board at a time and I’m a nature lover,” he said.
The retired science teacher lives there with his wife and three cats. He was a teacher for nearly three decades.
Powell said he wants to share nature with those who visit his property.
“The trees were there, and I like to make the world a better place,” he said. “They appreciate them, they’re pretty. … It’s a pretty tree. It’s easy to do good things.”
Powell is encouraging people to donate a small sum to a local animal shelter where he got his three cats.
“I wanted to give people trees and if they so choose to they could donate $5 to the humane society here in Lawrence,” he said.
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Information from: St. Joseph News-Press/St. Joe, Missouri, http://www.newspressnow.com
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