With gifts unwrapped, residents may wish to start the new year right by trashing their tree responsibly while raising cash for key organizations across Greater Victoria.
Monterey Middle School hosts a band trip fundraiser, tree chipping and bottle drive on Jan. 4. The event, sponsored by Garden City Tree and Landscape is by-donation (suggested $10) from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the school staff parking lot off Monterey Avenue in Oak Bay.
Oak Bay Firefighters Charitable Foundation chips trees, courtesy of Bartlett Tree Experts, Jan. 4 and 5 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Firefighters Park, 1703 Monterey Ave. The firefighters support community initiatives such as Oak Bay Sea Rescue, bike stations, outdoor classrooms endowments to the Carnarvon Ball Club and four Oak Bay High bursaries.
Reynolds secondary music program hosts fundraising tree chipping and a bottle drive Jan. 4 and 5 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the school parking lot at McKenzie Avenue and Borden Street.
Residents can recycle Christmas trees and support Easter Seals by dropping off by-donation for chipping at several locations on Jan. 4 and 5 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For a donation to Easter Seals, they’ll dispose of live Christmas trees in an environmentally-friendly manner. Funds raised support programs and services – including Camp Shawnigan – that support individuals with disabilities in your community. Numerous Lions Clubs from Greater Victoria will be volunteering at the myriad sites throughout the weekend. Davey Tree Services supports the initiative and will visit the sites periodically to chip trees on-site at Broadmead Village Shopping Centre, Tillicum Centre, Save-on-Foods at Fort and Foul Bay and Westshore Town Centre.
McKenzie Elementary School, supported by Bartlett Tree Experts, holds its annual Christmas tree chipping fundraiser on Jan. 6 and 7. Trees will be chipped by donation, with proceeds going toward the school’s Outdoor Playspace Project. Drop off trees at the school’s back parking lot at 4005 Raymond St. N., between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tree pickup is available within a 3-kilometre radius by request. Email tracylee16@hotmail.com by Jan. 1 to arrange.
Oaklands Elementary School parent advisory committee hosts a tree chipping – provided by Urban Tree Care – and bottle drive Jan. 11 from 9 a.m. to noon. Held at Oaklands Elementary, 2827 Belmont Ave., 100 per cent of funds raised support PAC school initiatives.
St. Patrick's Parent Support Group will be collecting Christmas trees for chipping (by donation) and bottles to fund extra curricular activities for students. Trees and bottles can be dropped off on Jan. 5, from 1 to 3 p.m. in the parking lot at 2368 Trent St.
George Jay Elementary PAC holds a tree chipping and bottle drive on Jan. 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the school parking lot. Anchor Tree will chip Christmas trees for free, and donations are welcome. Volunteers are needed to shovel wood chips into the school garden on Jan. 5. To help, email georgejaypacsec@gmail.com.
Central Middle School PAC hosts tree chipping by-donation on Jan. 4 and 5 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 1280 Fort St. There will also be a bottle drive Jan. 5.
Do you have a tree-recycling initiative for a cause? Let us know by emailing newsroom@vicnews.com.
