Tugging at Christmas tree: These youngsters are helping out at the St. Raphael’s annual Christmas Tree Sale on the campus of the church across from Walmart on Lee Blvd. They are from left to right, around the tree, Courtney Gamble, Christman Wood, Christopher Wood, Christian Wood, Desmond Jean-Jacaues, and Ashlee Game. The Gamble children are those of Oscar Gamble, this year’s honorary mayor for Lehigh, and also the chairman of the Christmas Tree Sale at St. Raphael’s Church. Photo by Mel Toadvine

A big king-sized tent on the grounds of St. Raphael’s Catholic Church on Lee Blvd., directly across from the Lehigh Super Walmart is again housing some 500 Christmas trees and they are the only local outlet for selling trees, while the rest around Lehigh are strictly for commercial profit.

“The money we take in for the sale of our trees goes to the church diocese in Venice and it is trickled back to the church here in Lehigh.

The Christmas trees went on sale at noon on the day after Thanksgiving, Black Friday to most.

“We’ve had a few people already up here and we’ve probably sold a dozen or so already,” Gamble said at around 1 p.m. Friday.

He said the trees arrived here on a refrigerated trailer and they are taken off and immediately placed in water troughs that the youngsters and other volunteers at the church have built. Not all the youngsters are members of St. Raphael’s but come from other churches and many are friends of those from St. Raphael’s. Some youngsters help out to fulfill their obligation for community service, he said.

Oscar Gamble’s own children were there bright and early on Black Friday helping the adults on hand to get the trees unbundled. Each tree is wrapped with a netting for the travel to Florida in the cool trailer.

“They come down in a long trailer that is refrigerated and when we take them off we immediately set them in water and then we unravel the netting around the tree allowing the limbs to fall and give the tree a way to breathe,” Gamble said.

“These are Premium No. 1 trees because all care has been given to them to keep them fresh and if the buyers keep them in water, they will last and their needles won’t fall off very soon,” Gamble said.

They sell all sizes of trees from small ones for $35 with stand. Others range from $40 for a four to five foot tree to $50 for a five to six foot tree or $65 for a six to seven foot tree for $65 dollars.

If you want a really big tree to use in a church of a high vaulted ceiling family room, you can get a nine to 10 foot tree for $115 and Gamble says most of the trees are even a little taller than advertised.

“You cannot beat the prices anywhere around here, not from the commercial people and we guarantee that we are selling the Number 1 Premium tree. Others cannot always say that,” he said.

You can also buy small, medium and large stands at very nominal prices while you’re there.

You don’t have to pull it to your car either because of the teenagers and the adult volunteers will load it up for you and send you on your way.

Gamble cautioned those who want to purchase a tree not to wait too long because they go pretty fast.

“And we are usually gone a few days before Christmas,” Gamble said. “Father Dennis Cooney usually comes over and says ‘boys, it time you pack up and go home and enjoy your Christmas.'” Gamble said.

All the trees are Fraser Firs with short needles and Gamble says the prices have not changed in a couple of years.

You’ll find them not far from the church in a big tent that was for amusements during the Fall Festival held by the church two weeks ago.

“The tent is all set up and is at the back of the parking lot, but if people turn into St. Raphael’s lot, they can’t miss us. They can also turn at the stoplight opposite Walmart and then turn right into the church parking lot,” he said.

Gamble said he believes their tent holds more Christmas trees for a greater selection than any other commercial tents in the community.

“If you can’t find your favorite tree here, you probably won’t find it anywhere else, and that’s for sure,” Gamble said.