Farmside Acres Provides Trees for Troops

GOSHEN – Orange County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus proudly participated in Farmside Acres’ annual “Trees for Troops” donation drive on a Tuesday afternoon in Cornwall.

With the help of Neuhaus, members of the Marine Aircraft Group 49 Detachment B (MAG-49 Det B) from Stewart Air National Guard Base and students from Lee Road Elementary School in Cornwall, Farmside Acres shipped about 1,150 Christmas trees.

“I’m very grateful that Bob Nannini (owner of Farmside Acres) and his family have made this an annual event,” Neuhaus said. “It brings the community together and serves as a wonderful way to provide some Holiday cheer to our brave servicemen and women, and their families. We are all appreciative of their sacrifice and hope this small gesture shows our gratitude. I enjoyed spending time at Farmside Acres with a group of great people.”

The trees will go to families at Fort Bragg, N.C., which is the largest military installation in the world with nearly 50,000 active duty members. Other locations that will receive the trees are Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield in Georgia and the Marine Corps Air Station in Cherry Point, N.C.

Since 2009, Farmside Acres has collected more than 4,000 trees for the Trees for Troops program, which brings farm-grown Christmas Trees to U.S. troops and families at military bases in the U.S. and overseas. Farmside Acres is one of the country’s top Trees for Troops donors.

Trees for Troops provides farm-grown Christmas Trees to United States armed forces members in all branches of the military and their families, through donations, sponsorships, grants and the work of many volunteers. Since 2004 when the program was launched, FedEx has shipped more than 250,000 real Christmas trees to service members and their families in every branch of the military on approximately 75 bases in 17, countries at no charge.

“We are grateful that County Executive Neuhaus has taken such an interest in Trees for Troops and our family farm and for his service to our County and our country,” Nannini said. “From spreading the word throughout the county, to physically loading trees on pick-up day, Mr. Neuhaus has been a tremendous supporter. It’s clear that he values and respects everything that our servicemen and women do for us every day.”