Operation Christmas Tree’s mission is to contribute abundantly to the collective holiday and community spirit in Sonoma County – a spirit that is contagious and truly exemplifies the real meaning of Christmas.
1. First, fill out an application form
2. Schedule a day to go to the Operation Christmas Tree farm
3. Find the perfect tree to bring home
4. Enjoy the warmth of the holiday season
NOBODY should go without a Christmas tree
Operation Christmas Tree launched in the winter of 2020 during the wave of pandemic-related unemployment. We committed to delivering Christmas trees to Sonoma County families who could use a little extra support over the holidays. The response was overwhelming, and we delivered over 200 trees and their trimmings, along with hot meals and Christmas gifts, in the days leading up to Christmas day.
In 2021 we partnered with Haystack Farm Sonoma and Farm to Pantry to make the Christmas season even better for our community’s families. Families could visit the Operation Christmas Tree farm and choose their pre-cut tree and all necessary decorations. Farm to Pantry provided OCT families with a food box carefully curated by F.E.E.D. Sonoma. All families were able to visit Santa’s Sweet Shoppe, where they could enjoy a hot drink and every holiday treat you could imagine. The magic of Christmas was alive at the farm. With the help of our partners and donors, we provided over 1,000 Sonoma County families with trees and all of their trimmings, fed 577 families, and offered gift sponsorship to 30 families.
Dear Sonoma County Community,
We hope this message finds you well and in the warmth of the approaching holiday season. It is with heavy hearts that we write to share some difficult news regarding Operation Christmas Tree.
When we started this project, our goal was simple: to spread Christmas joy and brighten the holidays for families in our community. Over the years, your support and kindness have helped us achieve that dream, and it has been one of the most rewarding experiences of our lives.
This year, we had high hopes of returning to the project and continuing the tradition that has brought so much happiness to so many. Unfortunately, we faced significant challenges with funding and the resources needed to secure our mid-year orders, which has made it impossible for us to move forward.
As we reflect on these challenges, we have made the difficult decision to move toward dissolving our nonprofit after this year. This decision does not come lightly, but managing the project with limited help has proven increasingly difficult. While this chapter may be coming to a close, we are committed to finding ways to spread holiday cheer in Sonoma County by collaborating with other organizations that share our passion for giving back.
In the spirit of Christmas and our unwavering dedication to spreading joy this holiday season, we are thrilled to share that we have become a sponsor of the Secret Santa program and made a donation to the Redwood Empire Food Bank. These efforts reflect our continued commitment to supporting our community and ensuring that the magic of the holidays lives on. Operation Christmas Tree has brought us so much joy and has truly been a blessing in our lives. We will continue to seek opportunities to make a difference, even as this chapter closes.
We want to take this moment to express our deepest gratitude to all of you—the individuals, families, and businesses—who have supported Operation Christmas Tree along the way. Your generosity, enthusiasm, and belief in our mission have been nothing short of inspiring. This project has brought so much joy to our hearts, and the memories we’ve made will stay with us forever.
While this may be goodbye for Operation Christmas Tree, it is not goodbye to the spirit of kindness and community that brought us all together. Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to serve and for all the support you have given us. Without this wonderful community, none of this would have been possible.
We send our love and warmest wishes to you all for a joyous holiday season filled with peace, love, and the magic of Christmas.
With heartfelt gratitude,
The Operation Christmas Tree Team