BOARDMAN — Students at Boardman Center Intermediate School have been busy writing letters and creating ornaments for soldiers.

More than 200 ornaments and hundreds of letters were delivered to Pioneer Trails Tree Farm in Poland, which participates annually in Operation Evergreen. Pioneer Trails sends fresh-cut trees along with the handmade items overseas.

Daniel Hunt, a sixth-grade teacher at Boardman Center Intermediate, said his students enjoyed the project, with the topic resonating with some students.

“I heard many of them talking about family members and friends who have served or are currently serving our country. … It was a heartfelt effort,” he said.

Operation Evergreen is a project that was created 25 years ago by the Ohio Christmas Tree Association. Every year, tree farms across Ohio donate to the cause, paying the cost of the tree and shipping.

Pioneer Trails Tree Farm, 4222 Center Road, has participated in the program for 24 years and again this season.

“We are so excited to participate in this worthy cause for another year,” said Mary Jan Perdulla of the tree farm. “Local Girl Scout Troop 80170 helped us cut the trees, making this event even more special.”

Pioneer Trails Tree Farm donated eight trees this season. The trees were cut down Nov. 7 with several other groups participating. Assisting with ornament packing were local veterans, and members of the American Legion Post 15, and auxiliary American Legion Post 15 in Poland.

Students who made ornaments and wrote letters, besides Boardman Center Intermediate School (grades 4-6), are Liberty High School’s multiple disabilities classroom and Girl Scout Troop 80170 Poland.

The farm not only covers the cost of the trees, but shipping costs hit approximately $160 to ship one tree, which totals $16,000 to ship all 100 trees collected from Ohio tree growers. OCTA has started a GoFundMe account where the community can help raise money to ship the trees. Many groups attending Nov. 7 also have made donations to help cover the shipping of the Christmas trees.

Perdulla said this year the tree farm is committed to keeping visitors safe during COVID-19 and is preparing for opening day on Nov. 20. For more information, visit PioneerTrailsTreeFarm.com, call 330-501-6756 or 330-757-0884, or email pioneertrails treefarm@gmail.com.

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