A Lions Share Of Belmont's Christmas Tree Sales

The Madden family – a quartet of daughters: Brogan, Reagan, Rory and Aisling; and mom and dad, Paul and Denise – were spending the sunny and brisk Sunday after Thanksgiving seeking the centerpiece of their Christmas; a green, pine-scented, real life Christmas tree being sold by the just outside the MBTA commuter rail station in Belmont Center.

While some people may think November is a bit early to select a tree for the upcoming holiday season, the Maddens know better than most that it is better to be safe than sorry, according to Denise. 

"One year we came and they had sold out," she said, as the kids observed the wall of wreaths on the inside of the Lions Club's office. 

And there's good reason for the popularity of the Christmas tree sale held by Belmont's local service club that share a core belief with the other 1.4 million Lion members from across the globe: community is what we make it.

"This has become a family tradition," said Joe Barrell, a former local president who was "managing" the volunteers who both sell and help secure the trees and other festive arrangements for their customers.

"We have people from Connecticut and Vermont who come back to their home town to buy a tree and then drive it back to their own homes," said Barrell, who said the Lions will sell 2,500 trees and 1,500 wreaths before the 25th.

Much of that loyalty has to do with the longevity of the sale: the first sale began in 1957, 53 years ago. Paul Madden and his family began coming to the sale for the past 11 years since Aisling was born, beginning their own tradition.

"But I've been coming here since I was born when my family would come every year," he said, having grown up in Belmont.

The sale is Belmont Lions' biggest fundraiser of the year, making up the majority of the $50,000 the club provides to charities that include those that support diabetes and eye research, said Barrell. 

And the sale is a true community event. When the club has one of the four deliveries of trees and wreaths each season, a high school sports team – hockey, football and baseball, for example – will unload the cargo while another – softball recently – will create the wreaths.

"It's a real spirit of cooperation and the town coming together," said Barrell. 

"I like it that the money goes to charity and they really are the best (trees) around," said Paul Madden. 

"And we don't have to drive that much to get our tree," said Rory.

The Belmont Lions Club will be selling trees and wreaths until the 24th but more likely until they run out of stock. Trees range from $17 for a four-foot tree to $35 for a six footer to $45 for an eight foot tree. Any taller will go for $50. Wreaths cost from $10 for a 12-inch plain variety to $40 for a decorated 24-inch one. They also have mantel pieces, white pine garlands and baskets of flowers and greens among other items.

The sale hours are 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Friday; and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends.