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BEDFORD HILLS, N.Y. — Though Christmas is only a few days away, many locals are still trying to find that perfect tree. Some might not know, however, that there's a choice for buying a tree that also helps others.
Stonefield Trees sits in the middle of Bedford Hills and Mount Kisco on Bedford Road. It is a seasonal tree shop that plans to give part of its proceeds back to the local community.
“We’re giving away 10 percent of our overall sales to the Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital in Westchester Medical Center,” said Joe Weekes, a worker in the shop. “We’re giving some and not pocketing everything.”
The trees, which are all Fraser firs, hail from South Carolina. Weekes said their southern roots put them in better shape.
“They tend to be a much cleaner and straighter tree than those that come from the north," he said. "The North’s trees aren’t bad, but the South Carolina ones are more evenly grown due to the climate.”
Times have been tough, though, even for tree shops that specialize in holiday aesthetics.
“We’ve been rather slow. We usually do about a 1,000 trees and we’re little under half of that,” he said. “And what I understand, everyone’s going through that.”
Weekes said for many, picking a tree is similar to a speed date.
“Depending on if you want one tall, short, etcetera, it’s like picking out a loved one,” he explained. “Everyone comes in looking for the perfect tree but its beauty is always in the eye of the beholder.”
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