Butler Lions Club sponsors annual Christmas tree sale

November 30, 2024 Last Updated: November 29, 2024 07:11 PM Local News

Butler Lions Club members Eric Cranmer, left, and Randy Pilarcik hang up a banner advertising the sale of Christmas trees at Trinity Lutheran Church during Butler Lions Club's annual Christmas tree sale on Friday, Nov. 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/29/2024)

Butler Lions Club members Doug Hayes, left, and Barry Flecken string up lights during Butler Lions Club's annual Christmas tree sale at Trinity Lutheran Church on Friday, Nov. 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/29/2024)

Butler Lions Club member Randy Pilarcik hangs up a banner advertising the sale of Christmas trees at Trinity Lutheran Church during Butler Lions Club's annual Christmas tree sale on Friday, Nov. 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/29/2024)

Meghann Barker, left, and Ellen Barker search for a Christmas tree with the help of Butler Lions Club member Eric Cranmer during Butler Lions Club's annual Christmas tree sale at Trinity Lutheran Church on Friday, Nov. 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/29/2024)

Butler Lions Club member Pat Fullerton carries a Christmas tree to a customer's car during Butler Lions Club's annual Christmas tree sale at Trinity Lutheran Church on Friday, Nov. 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/29/2024)

Michael Barker and Laurali Barker, 3, search for a Christmas tree during Butler Lions Club's annual Christmas tree sale at Trinity Lutheran Church on Friday, Nov. 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/29/2024)

Butler Lions Club member Eric Cranmer, left, and Doug Hayes hang up lights during Butler Lions Club's annual Christmas tree sale at Trinity Lutheran Church on Friday, Nov. 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/29/2024)

Ellen Barker searches for a Christmas tree with the help of Butler Lions Club member Eric Cranmer during Butler Lions Club's annual Christmas tree sale at Trinity Lutheran Church on Friday, Nov. 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/29/2024)

Laurali Barker, 3, and grandmother Ellen Barker search for a Christmas tree during Butler Lions Club's annual Christmas tree sale at Trinity Lutheran Church on Friday, Nov. 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/29/2024)

Butler Lions Club member Eric Cranmer cuts the twine off Christmas trees for sale during Butler Lions Club's annual Christmas tree sale at Trinity Lutheran Church on Friday, Nov. 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/29/2024)

Michael Barker, Laurali Barker, 3, and Meghann Barker search for a Christmas tree during Butler Lions Club's annual Christmas tree sale at Trinity Lutheran Church on Friday, Nov. 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/29/2024)

Butler Lions Club members Barry Flecken, left, and Randy Pilarcik hang up a banner advertising the sale of Christmas trees at Trinity Lutheran Church during Butler Lions Club's annual Christmas tree sale on Friday, Nov. 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/29/2024)

Meghann Barker checks her Christmas tree before buying it during Butler Lions Club's annual Christmas tree sale at Trinity Lutheran Church on Friday, Nov. 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/29/2024)

Butler Lions Club member Barry Flecken checks light bulbs before stringing up lights during Butler Lions Club's annual Christmas tree sale at Trinity Lutheran Church on Friday, Nov. 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/29/2024)

Butler Lions Club members Doug Hayes unravels a string of lights during Butler Lions Club's annual Christmas tree sale at Trinity Lutheran Church on Friday, Nov. 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/29/2024)

Ellen Barker fluffs looks at Christmas trees before buying one during Butler Lions Club's annual Christmas tree sale at Trinity Lutheran Church on Friday, Nov. 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/29/2024)

Butler Lions Club member Doug Hayes unravels a string of lights during Butler Lions Club's annual Christmas tree sale at Trinity Lutheran Church on Friday, Nov. 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/29/2024)

Butler Lions Club members Eric Cranmer, left, and Randy Pilarcik hang up a banner advertising the sale of Christmas trees at Trinity Lutheran Church during Butler Lions Club's annual Christmas tree sale on Friday, Nov. 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/29/2024)
Butler Lions Club members Doug Hayes, left, and Barry Flecken string up lights during Butler Lions Club's annual Christmas tree sale at Trinity Lutheran Church on Friday, Nov. 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/29/2024)
Butler Lions Club member Randy Pilarcik hangs up a banner advertising the sale of Christmas trees at Trinity Lutheran Church during Butler Lions Club's annual Christmas tree sale on Friday, Nov. 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/29/2024)
Meghann Barker, left, and Ellen Barker search for a Christmas tree with the help of Butler Lions Club member Eric Cranmer during Butler Lions Club's annual Christmas tree sale at Trinity Lutheran Church on Friday, Nov. 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/29/2024)
Butler Lions Club member Pat Fullerton carries a Christmas tree to a customer's car during Butler Lions Club's annual Christmas tree sale at Trinity Lutheran Church on Friday, Nov. 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/29/2024)
Michael Barker and Laurali Barker, 3, search for a Christmas tree during Butler Lions Club's annual Christmas tree sale at Trinity Lutheran Church on Friday, Nov. 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/29/2024)
Butler Lions Club member Eric Cranmer, left, and Doug Hayes hang up lights during Butler Lions Club's annual Christmas tree sale at Trinity Lutheran Church on Friday, Nov. 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/29/2024)
Ellen Barker searches for a Christmas tree with the help of Butler Lions Club member Eric Cranmer during Butler Lions Club's annual Christmas tree sale at Trinity Lutheran Church on Friday, Nov. 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/29/2024)
Laurali Barker, 3, and grandmother Ellen Barker search for a Christmas tree during Butler Lions Club's annual Christmas tree sale at Trinity Lutheran Church on Friday, Nov. 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/29/2024)
Butler Lions Club member Pat Fullerton carries a Christmas tree to a customer's car during Butler Lions Club's annual Christmas tree sale at Trinity Lutheran Church on Friday, Nov. 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/29/2024)
Butler Lions Club member Eric Cranmer cuts the twine off Christmas trees for sale during Butler Lions Club's annual Christmas tree sale at Trinity Lutheran Church on Friday, Nov. 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/29/2024)
Michael Barker, Laurali Barker, 3, and Meghann Barker search for a Christmas tree during Butler Lions Club's annual Christmas tree sale at Trinity Lutheran Church on Friday, Nov. 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/29/2024)
Michael Barker, Laurali Barker, 3, and Meghann Barker search for a Christmas tree during Butler Lions Club's annual Christmas tree sale at Trinity Lutheran Church on Friday, Nov. 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/29/2024)
Butler Lions Club member Eric Cranmer cuts the twine off Christmas trees for sale during Butler Lions Club's annual Christmas tree sale at Trinity Lutheran Church on Friday, Nov. 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/29/2024)
Butler Lions Club members Barry Flecken, left, and Randy Pilarcik hang up a banner advertising the sale of Christmas trees at Trinity Lutheran Church during Butler Lions Club's annual Christmas tree sale on Friday, Nov. 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/29/2024)
Meghann Barker checks her Christmas tree before buying it during Butler Lions Club's annual Christmas tree sale at Trinity Lutheran Church on Friday, Nov. 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/29/2024)
Butler Lions Club member Barry Flecken checks light bulbs before stringing up lights during Butler Lions Club's annual Christmas tree sale at Trinity Lutheran Church on Friday, Nov. 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/29/2024)
Butler Lions Club members Doug Hayes unravels a string of lights during Butler Lions Club's annual Christmas tree sale at Trinity Lutheran Church on Friday, Nov. 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/29/2024)
Ellen Barker fluffs looks at Christmas trees before buying one during Butler Lions Club's annual Christmas tree sale at Trinity Lutheran Church on Friday, Nov. 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/29/2024)
Meghann Barker checks her Christmas tree before buying it during Butler Lions Club's annual Christmas tree sale at Trinity Lutheran Church on Friday, Nov. 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/29/2024)
Butler Lions Club member Doug Hayes unravels a string of lights during Butler Lions Club's annual Christmas tree sale at Trinity Lutheran Church on Friday, Nov. 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/29/2024)
Butler Lions Club member Eric Cranmer cuts the twine off Christmas trees for sale during Butler Lions Club's annual Christmas tree sale at Trinity Lutheran Church on Friday, Nov. 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/29/2024)

Butler Lions Club member Pat Fullerton carries a Christmas tree to a customer's car during the club's annual Christmas tree sale at Trinity Lutheran Church Friday, Nov. 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

CENTER TWP — The largest fundraiser for the Butler Lions Club perfectly encapsulates what it means to give during the Christmas season.

More than a dozen members volunteered their time to put on another edition of the storied service club’s Christmas tree sale on Friday, Nov. 29, at the Trinity Lutheran Church.

“I think it is a tradition for a lot of people,” said Lions Club President Rhonda Pilarcik. “It’s getting out there in the public for sure. It definitely is a special event for the community.”

The sale dates back decades and has moved around to several locations over the years, including downtown Butler and Butler Senior High School before it was moved to the church, where it’s been held for nearly a decade.

Club members annually pick up about 80 fresh-cut trees from Goldstrohm Tree Farm in Armstrong County before setting them up underneath the church’s outdoor pavilion. After someone makes a decision on an evergreen, members help with any necessary size adjustments and with loading the tree.

“It’s pretty stable,” said Lions Club member and former president Barry Flecken about the popularity of the sale. “We have to order the trees by September, so we generally go with 75 to 80 trees. We know we can sell that amount without too much trouble.”

The Fraser fir trees are priced at $70 apiece. All of the proceeds are then distributed to more than a dozen local charities across Butler County.

“With everything that’s done here, last year we probably gave to no less than 15 charities with the money we made from this event,” Pilarcik said. “It’s a worthwhile event that we have. It benefits the county because anything that we raise stays in Butler. I think that’s a win for the community.”

While some families may enjoy cutting down their own tree on a local farm, Flecken said the convenience of the process and the ability to support worthwhile local causes are what keeps people coming back.

“We have many repeat customers,” he said. “Maybe it’s a tradition for the family to get a tree right after Thanksgiving and then put it up. The big selling point is these are very nice trees that seem to hold their needles and last through the season.”

Michael Barker and Laurali Barker, 3, search for a Christmas tree during Butler Lions Club's annual Christmas tree sale at Trinity Lutheran Church Friday, Nov. 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Butler Lions Club member Barry Flecken checks light bulbs before stringing up lights during the club's annual Christmas tree sale at Trinity Lutheran Church Friday, Nov. 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Butler Lions Club member Eric Cranmer cuts the twine off Christmas trees for sale during the club's annual Christmas tree sale at Trinity Lutheran Church Friday, Nov. 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle