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Melissa Swingle, Cambridge assistant director of economic development, poses with a tree on Hrinko Christmas Tree farms.
Swingle said the trees for the program are provided at a significant discount by Hrinko Tree Farm in Caldwell. [Melissa Swingle | City of Cambridge]

Thanks to a city program, Cambridge families in need won’t go without a Christmas tree

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CAMBRIDGE, Ohio (WOUB/Report for America) — When the holiday season came around last year, all Tiara Colvin wanted for her three grandchildren was a proper Christmas tree. 

Tiara Colvin and her kids pose with their Christmas tree.
Colvin said she’s been grateful to carry on the tradition of having a live tree at Christmas with her grandchildren. [Tiara Colvin]
“I grew up with a live tree,” she said. “The smell of the pine, and having to water it, and the responsibility. … It’s special.” 

But she says times were hard last year, and with trees costing as much as $100, it just wasn’t in the budget. 

Then a friend told Colvin to reach out to the Cambridge Tree Commission. With the help of a local Christmas tree farm, the commission provided Colvin with a live tree free of cost. 

“This tree … it meant so much to me,” Colvin said. “I bawled my eyes out. I was so happy, and I was so blessed that year.”

Melissa Swingle, Cambridge assistant director of economic development, said she started the program last winter to help support local families during the holiday season. 

Vicki Miracle's children gather around a Christmas tree.
Miracle said her children have been very excited about the process of caring for a live tree. [Vicki Miracle]
“It’s just one of those staples of the holiday we don’t want to see a family go without,” she said.

Swingle said the program also supports local sustainability by giving families trees with a live root ball. When the holiday season is over, the tree is planted in the city, instead of ending up in a landfill — with one exception. 

Colvin said when the holiday season was over, her family just couldn’t part ways. 

“I cried when it was time to give it back,” Colvin said. “I wanted … it (to) be a memory that they would have, year after year, decorating that tree at my house.” 

Colvin said the tree was so important to her family that she even offered to find a way to pay for it. The commission agreed to plant it in her yard, where she plans to decorate it with her grandkids again this month. 

After an impactful first run, the tree commission continued the program this year, delivering three trees to local families. 

Vicki Miracle, one of this season’s recipients and a single mother of four, said she’s excited to start the tradition of a live tree with her kids. They’ve already talked about visiting the tree once it’s replanted in the city.

“My 4-year-old … he was talking about how tall it was, and how it smelled good, and he was worried that it wouldn’t fit over in the corner that we were putting it in,” she said.  “They’re very excited to see that it’s something that we get to help keep alive.” 

Those interested in learning more about the program can reach out to Melissa Swingle at mswingle@cambridgeoh.org.

Amanda Pirani is WOUB’s Report for America Journalist covering Economic Livelihood. For more information about Report for America, you can click here.