Some military families will have one less thing to worry about this holiday season thanks to the generosity of a Mahoning tree farm and local residents.

Yenser’s Tree Farm in Mahoning Township has been providing trees to military families for 16 years through the national Trees for Troops program.

“We know it means a lot to a family, and it means a lot to the people here too. It’s an opportunity to give,” said Jan Wentz, co-owner of Yenser’s Tree Farm.

Throughout this weekend, customers can purchase a tree for a military family, and leave a message for them on a tree tag. Yenser’s offers them at a discounted rate, $25. Donations of any amount go toward the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation, which organizes the project.

While there are plenty of trees available for potential donors, many have already been funded by local organizations who raise money for Trees for Troops on an annual basis. Students from Jim Thorpe, Lehighton and Panther Valley all contribute to the cause.

On Friday, many of those students traveled to Yenser’s to kick off the Trees for Troops weekend. The event included the Lehighton Area High School chorus, the Panther Valley JROTC, and the Lehighton United Veterans Organization.

Wentz says that the ceremony is always special because it features local students showing their appreciation for those who serve in the military and their families.

“It’s fun to see kids getting that message, especially at the program,” Wentz said.

On Monday, the trees will hit the road south, where they will be delivered to Marine Base Fort Lejeune in North Carolina and Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base in Georgia.

The trees for troops program has given more than 262,265 trees to military bases in the US and overseas.

This year, Pennsylvania’s Department of Agriculture and Department of Military & Veterans Affairs got behind the program. Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding visited a participating farm in York County.

“By donating a Christmas tree, our service men and women receive a reminder of home and family no matter where they are stationed. It is a small gesture of thanks that embodies the best of holiday spirit,” Redding said.

Over the years, Yenser’s has donated thousands of trees to the program. In recent years, the donation topped 750 trees. This year the total is smaller, 250 this year, because a decade ago, Yenser’s didn’t plant as many trees in its fields as it did in other years.

Wentz says that the shortage of inventory is temporary, and they hope to resume increasing the donation in the coming years.

“Trees for Troops is a high priority. We’ll definitely be sending many more to them in the future,” Wentz said