ELLENTON, Fla. — At two lots in Manatee County, Christmas trees are helping to change lives.
- Loving Hands Ministry members do all work cutting, trimming trees
- Group running two Christmas tree sales lots in 2019
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All proceeds from Christmas tree sales at the two tree stands run by the team at Loving Hands Ministries go straight to helping recovering drug addicts.
The men in the faith-based program do all of the work, including cutting, trimming, and moving the trees. They also have hand-made wreaths for sale.
Keith O’Connor has been a part of the program for the past five years. He says that involvement has changed his life.
"At about 13 years old I tried alcohol for the first time. It kind of just woke up this demon of addiction inside of me, that I had no idea was in there,” he said. “I wanted to be a rock star, so I decided I wanted to try and live that rock star life, and it just completely consumed me.”
Now a mentor in the program, O’Connor is helping other men find sobriety and learn what it means to have a loving family.
The group is running two lots this year. You can visit them at 2900 US Highway 301 in Ellenton, or at 6502 14th Street W in Bradenton.