Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
Surnames: Kopp
----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 12/27/2017
Neillsville - Local Tree Grower Donates Christmas Trees (To the Military - 2017)
Local Tree Grower Donates Christmas Trees to the Military
Tim Kopp, co-owner of Kopp Forest Products of Neillsville, strikes a pose next to his pickup loaded with 15 Christmas Trees ready for delivery for the Trees for Troops program through the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation, a charitable organization providing free trees to military personnel. Visit www.treesfortroops.org for more details on the Trees for Troops program. (Contributed photo)
By Nancy Curtin
One of the favorite traditions during the holidays is decorating the Christmas tree, a tradition experienced in nearly every household.
But what about those serving our country?
Back in 2011, Tim and Nancy Kopp, owners of Kopp Forest Products of Neillsville, shipped a small Christmas tree to their son John while deployed in Yemen.
“John was pretty much the only one over there who had a tree that year,” Tim said.
During 2012, the Kopps learned of the Trees for Troops (TFT) program offered by the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation (SPIRIT) and knew they had to get involved.
“Being in the military is a pretty big sacrifice,” said Tim, “especially when they are away from home during the holidays.”
Christmas Tree growers have been providing free trees to military families for many years. In 2005, FedEx contacted SPIRIT, a charitable branch of the nation al Christmas Tree Association, expressing the desire to be involved in its foundation, creating TFT.
Since then, more than 191,000 trees have been sent to troops, and military families in the U.S. and oversees.
FedEx offers a reduced shipping rate and has logged more than 700,000 delivery miles the past 12 years.
TFT accepts monetary donations to cover the cost of shipping.
In 2016 alone, roughly 450 growers, retailers, and customers in 25 states donated over 17,000 farm-grown Christmas Tres to the cause. Hundreds of donors, and volunteers participate each year to make the TFT a success.
“This is simple way for us to do our part for the military,” Tim said.
The Kopps started their tree farm back in the mid-70s, and today embrace the help of family members to keep it going.
Kopp Forest Products offers – choose and cut, and fresh cut Frasier, balsam, spruce, and pine Christmas trees, wreaths, roping, boughs, and tree stands. This year colored trees were also available.
Visit Kopp Forest Products on Facebook or call 715-937+0636 for more information. They look forward to seeing you in 2018.
For more details on the Trees for Troops program or to make a donation, visit www.TreesForTroops.org/.
