Cha-ching! (11-17)

Mahoney's Garden Center, with seven Massachusetts locations, is doing something that is both kind and patriotic at the Concord store this year. Actually, "again this year" is a more apt description.

For the fourth holiday season in a row, the Mahoney's Concord location is participating in the Trees for Troops campaign. Through Trees for Troops, which began on Nov. 11 and will run through Dec. 4, holiday shoppers can purchase a Christmas tree for a military family somewhere around the world.

"Where ever there's demand, that's where they'll go," Yvonne Russell, general manager of Mahoney's Concord location, said in a recent interview with ConcordPatch.

Individuals or families can purchase a 6- to 8-foot Christmas tree (for less than $25) and attach a note of encouragement to send along with the tree. In addition, Mahoney's will contribute $5 for every Trees for Troops purchase made.

All of the pines will be gathered at Mahoney's Winchester location in December and sent to military personnel at 52 military bases and installations all over the world.

This is the kind of holiday program that resonates with customers on several levels. Certainly, everyone is more charitable at this time of the year. Likewise, most Americans appreciate the sacrifices being made for them and would love for a noteworthy means to say thanks. The cool thing about this project is that there is little "Cha-ching!" to be made at the outset for the garden center.

But there could be plenty to come down the road.

Looking for a Cha-ching! you might have missed? Go to the search box and type Cha-ching! Items are listed by date.