HELENA — Greg Macker ran his annual Christmas tree lot in Helena for over 30 years before retiring in November of this year. For those looking for a Christmas tree this holiday season, do not worry, Macker left the lot in good hands.
West Mont, a non-profit organization that provides services to people with disabilities, will sell trees in the same spot Macker sold them for three decades and all of the proceeds from the trees will go back to the organization. With all of the proceeds going to West Mont the organization's business director Robin Farrell hopes they can get close to $10k in money for the non-profit.
"That's our goal, that's what we'd like to see in profit. We have quite a bit of money invested this year, so we'd like to see a good return on it," said Farrell.
In Farrell's eyes, that goal doesn't seem like it will difficult to ascertain.
"Especially this year, it seems with COVID, there's a lot more Christmas lights going up. So we anticipate Friday and Saturday selling about 100 trees each day," said Farrell.
The lot is staffed, in part, by West Mont clients who help set up and decorate the lot, something Patrick Sheehan says is one of the best parts of West Mont taking over the lot.
"We're just looking to have a great time with the clients. Especially people like Mary and Zack who are intricate parts in helping us set up, but also doing decorations," said Sheehan. "Mary has been designing everything. She's kind of the brains of the operation, telling us where to put everything."
The lot is located on the west side of Montana Ave, just south of Custer Ave. and officially opens on Nov. 27 at 10 a.m.
