PORTLAND, Conn. – It’s said it’s better to give than receive. If that’s true, one local farm is harvesting a bumper crop of joy. For a ninth year, Hale Hill Farm, situated on the town lines of Glastonbury and Portland, will host on Saturday, Dec. 7, its annual Christmas Tree Charity Day, complete with a good old fashioned barn party. The holiday-themed event features pre-cut and cut-your-own trees for a suggested donation of just $50. All proceeds benefit the fight against multiple sclerosis.
“Here at Hale Hill we truly do believe it’s better to give than to receive,” said Ric Hosley, whose inspiration to launch Hale Hill BioFuels came from working the farmland on the back of a tractor billowing gray black smoke. “We are dedicated to sustainable living. We are also committed to giving back. Our annual charity day is one way we can assist people in our community whose challenges are greater than ours.”
Since 2004, the Hale Hill Farm Christmas tree fundraiser has raised more than $34,000 to benefit charities, such as the Make A Wish Foundation, Save the Children and many more. The event features hayrides, food, beverages, including hot chocolate, entertainment, music, silent auction and a blazing bonfire.
“We are delighted this year to support the MS cause,” said Hosley, who after testing biodiesel blends in his own fleet of trucks and farm equipment, began distributing B20 home heating fuel and on- and off-road fuel to eco-conscious homeowners, businesses and municipalities throughout Connecticut. “Charity Day at Hale Hill Farm has created lasting memories for families looking for a meaningful way to start the holiday season.”
More than 6,000 Connecticut residents live with the effects of multiple sclerosis, a potentially debilitating disease. The cause is unknown, and, and there currently is no cure. Symptoms can include, among other things, numbness in the limbs, difficulties with vision and speech, stiffness and, in some more severe cases, total paralysis. The progress, severity, and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot be predicted. Community events, such as the Hale Hill Farm Christmas Tree Charity Day, ensure science keeps moving forward toward better treatments and, ultimately, a cure. These funds also provide for the continuation of vital programs and services offered by the National MS Society to people in the state living with multiple sclerosis.
The Hale Hill Farm Christmas Tree Charity Day will be held at Hale Hill Farm Saturday, Dec. 7, from noon to 5 p.m. Guests can choose to either cut their own tree or pick one from a selection of pre-cut trees. There is a suggested $50 donation per tree. Proceeds benefit the National MS Society, Connecticut Chapter. Hale Hill Farm is located at 815 Glastonbury Turnpike, in Portland.
For more information, please call 860-526-8836 or visit www.halehillfarm.com. For support in planning an event to benefit MS, please contact Kate Moore at kate.moore@nmss.org. For more information on multiple sclerosis, its effects and the many ways the National MS Society helps people with MS move their lives forward, visit www.ctfightsMS.org.
