By Karen Kistler

karen.kistler@salisburypost.com

MOUNT ULLA — Because of Josiah and Ezra Chester, Christmas for others in the area will be brighter and a memory maker.

The two boys, ages seven and four, respectively, have been bringing joy to the community by donating Christmas trees and books to those who might not otherwise be able to have them during this special season.

Getting them “to be intentional about thinking about others,” the advice of a family friend and pastor and his wife, was something parents Brittany and Jason did when they had their children, Brittany shared.

When he got old enough, she asked Josiah what he wanted to do to give back, anticipating his answer to be to donate some old toys.

After considering the question, and “he actually thought harder than I thought he would about it,” he said, ‘I got it. I want to donate Christmas trees.”

Christmas trees have always been a source of joy for Josiah and therefore, Jason said his son “wanted to give fully dressed trees to families who would otherwise have difficulty finding the disposable income to purchase a tree for their family.”

And not artificial ones, as mom considered they could go to the store and get some. That was a ‘no’ from Josiah, and “they ‘have’ to be real. I ‘love’ them,” he said, stressing these particular facts.

And his idea didn’t just include the donation of a tree, but it was to be presented complete with lights, decorations, a star or angel topper, the stand and tree skirt.

After hearing his desire to provide this for families, Brittany said, “I told Jason, we’ve asked the question, and now we’ve got to figure out a way to follow through.”

This will be the third year since the project began, and in the last two years, Jason noted, Josiah’s Christmas Tree Project has been able to donate 37 full-size Christmas trees and 10 tabletop-size trees to the community.” 

Ezra was then asked what he wanted to do, and his answer was “I want to give books,” books that tell the “true meaning of Christmas.”

Sitting together as a family by the tree and reading is something the boys enjoy, said Brittany, and now through their project, other families can do the same and make some sweet Christmas memories of their own.

Twenty trees, said Josiah, and 20 books, added Ezra. That’s their goal for this year.

Not able to make this happen all on their own, the family has reached out to the community to help fund the project through donations by creating a GoFundMe page, https://gofund.me/7bd49743, with all of the donations going to the purchase of trees, decorations and books for each family.

As of now, $620 has been donated toward their $1,500 goal. Those wishing to help may visit their page and donate for the project.

Every year, “God has been good,” Brittany shared, and they are hoping that if people feel called to do so, they will help them once again “so they can make it happen” and reach their goal and help these families.

New this year, Brittany added, is the donation of 20 brand new Bibles to give to each family, “because that was important to me,” she said.

The books they donate are Christian Christmas kids’ books, they are brand new and each family receives the same book.

When they first began the project, the Chester family enlisted the help of Rowan Helping Ministries, but for two years now, they have been working with the Boys and Girls Club in Statesville who, Brittany said, “figures out who is most in need and who is most interested.”

The Chester family of Mount Ulla takes the items to Statesville and if the families are OK with it, they get to meet them when they pick them up.

“We pray with them and load their car for them,” she shared. “That was important if they were okay with it. I wanted them (the boys) to be able to be a part of that.”

The reaction of those who receive the gifts is one of gratitude as Josiah said they tell them thanks when they get the tree and books.

Through his time as an Ag teacher at West Rowan School, Jason knew the family that owns Christmas Corner, a tree farm in the mountains where they get the trees.

When approached about this project, “they were very excited about helping us by saving the trees and they do give us a little bit of help with that, otherwise, retail wise, it would be more for 20 trees and all the decorations,” Brittany noted

If the money raised exceeds their goal, Brittany said, and if the tree farm has enough, they would purchase additional trees. However, if the amount would not be sufficient to cover the cost of trees and decorations, they would save it for next year’s project ready to spread that joy with families once again.