Despite the rain and cool weather Monday night, volunteers with the Laurel Lions Club were still finding a handful of customers looking for the perfect Christmas tree.
The Lions Club opened its annual Christmas tree sale Nov. 29 at the Laurel Shopping Center off Route 1.
It's the 59th year the club has sponsored the sale and the 13th for club member Charles Brannan.
The opening weekend marked one of the most successful tree selling days for the club as Saturday brought in about $2,500, Brannan said.
"It was our best Saturday in a long time," he said.
He attributed the high sales to nice weather and excitement for the Christmas season.
Each year, the Lions Club sells about 500 trees, raising nearly $9,000 for club initiatives, such as eye exams and eyeglass purchases and partnerships with the local fire departments among others.
This year, the Lions Club is expecting to donate $6,000 solely for eye exams and eyeglass purchases for Laurel residents in need through Laurel Advocacy and Referral Services, Brannan said.
Previously, the club — which has 43 members — has donated $3,500 to $4,000 each year for eye care services for adults and children.
The Christmas tree sale is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the Lions Club, said Brannan, who organizes the sale and also serves as the membership chairman for the organization.
"I like to meet the people," Brannan said of his participation. "It also gives us a good chance to advertise."
Now in its second year at the Laurel Shopping Center, the sale was previously held in the parking lot of the former Laurel Mall.
"We've been all around the city in the past 50 years," Brannan said.
The Lions Club Christmas tree sale is open every day, from 5 to 9 p.m. on weeknights and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends. Trees range from $30 to $50 and tree stands as well as wreaths are also on sale.