A Eustis military veteran wants your old Christmas tree — so he can help fellow veterans.
When Oscar Morris isn't restoring floors, he's making wooden canes.
Since September, Morris has made hundreds of canes from a workshop next to his house in Eustis. Then he sends each cane to a veteran who needs it — all free of charge.
It's an emotional endeavor for Morris, who served four years in the U.S. Navy.
"When they join the service, when they enlisted, they wrote a check, and I honor that check," a teary Morris said.
"Every cane gets a penny for the veteran's year that they enlisted."
He adds artistic designs, stripes and textures to the canes he makes. Some are straight; for others, he preserves the natural curves, knots and bumps of the wood. He wanted to make something that other veterans would be proud to show off.
"They're getting a sexy piece of wood. I tell them it's got some class and some style to it," Morris said.
The Lowe's home improvement store in Mount Dora recently donated hundreds of unused Christmas trees to Morris, but he says he could always use more.
"Seeing the look on (the veteran's) face, actually watching them walk away with the cane — it pays for everything I put into it," Morris said.
To donate your Christmas tree, Morris says to drop them off at 2641 Bates Ave., Eustis, Fla., 32726.
Free Canes for Veterans Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Free-Canes-For-Veterans-Veteran-Horizons-Free-Canes-175544492779359
And a GoFundMe page: https://www.gofundme.com/freecanesforvets
