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(Transportation-News.com, December 09, 2014 ) Portland, OR -- Charitable projects which provide a number of desperately needed forms of support for children in the local communities was dealt a huge blow. One of the largest annual events and a local tradition was almost lost; if not for the timely and charitable gesture from Mike Colvin, of Chuck Colvin Auto Center. For years, thousands of McMinnville and local residents had become accustomed, during the Christmas season, to seeing Christmas trees being sold by the local Lions Club on their Christmas tree lot, in the Walmart shopping center parking lot.
But then, something changed. Oh No! Where did all the Christmas trees go ... the Christmas trees from the annual McMinnville Lions Club Christmas tree sale, that is. A tradition for about ten years, local McMinnville area residents would stop at the Lions Club Christmas tree lot, examine and buy locally grown and harvested Christmas trees; and many would then go into to Walmart to purchase ornaments, decorations and presents, too. However, due to streamlining their processes, Walmart kicked the Lions Club off of their premises.
This long time tradition which many McMinnville and Yamhill County residents had come to count on, enjoy and take part in, and the charitable projects that depended on this event, were on the verge of a sad ending. However, in the true Spirit of Christmas Mike Colvin came to their rescue, quickly inviting the Lions Club to setup a Christmas Tree Lot and sell their Christmas trees a little further down Highway 99, at Chuck Colvin Auto Center.
A local roving reporter stopped on the lot this past season to talk to someone at the newer and more centrally located Christmas tree lot. Sam Justice, president of the McMinnville Lions Club, said, "We have lots of nice trees. Lots of nice green trees we sell to the public to benefit our charities". After the reporter commented about the smell of Christmas trees on the lot, Sam admitted, "The trees always smell really good. I always go home smelling like a Christmas tree after I sell Christmas trees here".
When asked about the type of Christmas trees local residents could find on the Lions Club Christmas tree lot, Sam replied, "We have Doug Firs, Grand Firs and Nobile Firs". Regarding the hours when McMinnville area residents can get a tree from the Christmas lot at Chuck Colvin Auto Center's lot, he went on to say, "During the week we're open from 1 [pm] to 8 [pm]; and on the weekends we are open at 9 [am] and close at 8 pm ... but, we will stay open later if there are people on the lot".
In response to a question about where the Christmas trees come from, Sam had this to say: "Our trees come from Yamhill County. Most of our Doug firs come from the Yamhill Tree Farm; and we get the Nobles from area farms ... or they may be coming out of Marion County. But they are all local trees. [...] They are all groomed trees. They are grown by Christmas tree farmers; intended to be Christmas Trees".
As people are driving down Highway 99W in McMinnville, going past Chuck Colvin Auto Service Center and the QuickLane Auto & Tire Repair Center, will see a green sign in front of the Christmas lot that says 'Merry Christmas. Lions Christmas Tree Sale Here' When asked about the location of their Christmas tree lot, Sam had this to say. "Right here at Chuck Colvin, we're really appreciative of Chuck Colvin Ford for letting us use their facility here. They have been really gracious hosts for [the entire time we have been here]; and we are really appreciative of it and try to be good stewards of their lot. I think they enjoy having us here; and we sure enjoy being here. He agreed that it definitely brings the Christmas spirit to the lot.
Gary Edwards, the General Manager at Chuck Colvin Auto Center, said "We move 100 cars, and donate 1/3 of our highway frontage (prime real estate) to the Lions club so they can do their Christmas tree sale".
When asked how the Lions Club would use the money generated from the Christmas Tree Lot for Lions Club projects, which help the local community, Sam Justice shared some of the really impacting benefits of this event, stating, in part: "We give out high school scholarships every year. We use the money [for vision screens] for grade school children. Every year we're in the schools and grade schools working with the local school district helping them to screen students for sight issues, to identify children who need eye glasses. We also use the funds to buy flags for first graders. Every first grader in the district gets an American Flag. We also support music in the schools. We [have been a Super Nova] sponsor of Jazz Night, which is a music booster program".
The Lions Club Christmas Tree Sale in McMinnville has been a long time tradition, which has helped fund a number of local charitable projects. These charitable projects and the annual tradition were almost lost a few years back. However, thanks to Chuck Colvin Auto Center, the tradition still lives on and is getting stronger now at the more centrally-located lot on HWY 99; and is another example of how the staff and management of the locally owned and operated Chuck Colvin Auto Center are committed to community involvement and giving back to McMinnville and Yamhill County residents.
About Chuck Colvin Auto Center:
Chuck Colvin Auto Center is part of a family owned and operated dealership located in the heart of Yamhill County's wine country in McMinnville Oregon. In business since 1911, they pride themselves on being the oldest Ford Dealership in Oregon. They are also the only Nissan Dealership in Yamhill County. Their business is based on honesty, integrity, and customer service, resulting in over 90% of their customers coming back or telling their friends about them.
The Colvin Service Center provides the on-site fixed operations for the Chuck Colvin Ford Dealership and the Chuck Colvin Nissan Dealership; providing expert auto repair for McMinnville, Newberg, Lafayette, Dundee, Sheridan & Yahmhill County residents.
Chuck Colvin Service Center proudly provides fleet management services, collision repairs, body exterior and interior repairs and restoration, a Quick Lane Tire & Auto Repair Center; with services provided by Ford and Nissan Factory Trained and ASE Certified Techs and Mechanics, inlcuding multiple master mechanics. The Chuck Colvin Service Center Parts Deparment carries and installs Genuine OEM Ford & Motorcraft Auto Parts
Chuck Colvin Auto Center
Gary Edwards
800-223-5099
GaryE@colvinauto.com
Source: EmailWire.Com 
Source: EmailWire.com
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