Refurbished Christmas Tree Trailer Debuts As Vienna's Optimist Club Celebrates 70 Years

VIENNA, VA — The holiday season brings much to celebrate for the Optimist Club of Greater Vienna, which will mark its 70th anniversary as it kicks off its annual Christmas Tree Sale. The sale will get a boost thanks to volunteers refurbishing its Christmas tree sale trailer with a new artistic design.

Each year, the Optimist Club of Greater Vienna holds its Christmas Tree Sale, with proceeds benefiting youth scholarships and local programs. This year, the sale will kick off in the PNC Bank parking lot at 352 Maple Avenue East in Vienna at 3 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 28.

Christmas trees, wreaths and rope are sold at the sale. Christmas tree sale hours will be Fridays from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Wendi Carroll, the newly-elected president of the Optimist Club of Greater Vienna, told Patch that the Christmas tree sale builds community spirit among volunteers and customers alike.

"When our teen volunteers show up to help at the tree lot, they get to learn from our older members, they get to help families in their community make special holiday memories and they feel what it’s like to be a part of something bigger than themselves," said Carroll. "It may seem like just a Christmas tree lot to passersby, but when you stop in you become enveloped with the holiday spirit and a feeling of connectedness to your community. For me, that’s the magic of being an Optimist. Finding that community spirit, that magic that brings us all together in joy."

One key component of the sale has been a trailer the club sets up along Maple Avenue on Thanksgiving weekend. The club decided to touch up the slogan — "Optimists bringing out the best in kids" — and the painting of two youth reaching for the stars.

The group turned to the Vienna Arts Society to seek help for the project. Local artist Kimberly Stein not only volunteered to help but offered to give the trailer a completely new design, according to Bill Comerford, an Optimist Club and Vienna Arts Society member who led the Christmas Tree Trailer project. The new trailer design keeps the Optimist Club motto while showcasing a winter-themed design.

According to Comerford, Stein led the creative work for the project, selecting color schemes, doing mockups and directing volunteers to help paint the trailer. Vienna Arts Society President Mike Cheselka was credited with getting the trailer power washed, primed and prepped to be painted. Comferford also thanked Caboose Brewing Company for allowing the club to connect to their water and Sherwin Williams Paints for providing assistance with choosing paints.

"We thank Kim, Mike, the Vienna Arts Society, and all the folks who made this such a great collaboration of two nonprofit organizations joining in a common cause to create something that will be of great help as the Optimist Club, making [the] trailer more than just a refuge but a wonderful home while we greet all those coming to buy a tree," said Comerford. "We hope all of Vienna will come out and while buying a tree get their own pictures as they reach for the stars themselves."

The Optimist Club of Greater Vienna is a community service organizations that raises funds for youth programs and scholarships. It is the operator of the Vienna Farmers Market, which runs from May to October on Saturdays in the Vienna Community Center parking lot.

Carroll said she started volunteering with the Optimist Club to stay connected to the community as her children grew older.

"In a time when things can feel so out of control in the world, I think it’s imperative to find small ways you can make a difference in your community," said Carroll. "With the Optimists, you can do that. By supporting our youth in the community we are helping to make tomorrow better."

To learn more about joining the Optimist Club of Greater Vienna, visit www.optimistclubofgreatervienna.org.