Marty Martinez (in red) started delivering Christmas trees to military families 11 years ago, and the tradition is still going strong in 2024. Martinez is the owner of TLG Apparel. Photo contributed

A Fresno business owner is continuing a tradition of serving those who serve by providing Christmas trees to families of active military members in the Central Valley and beyond.

This year, local businessman Marty Martinez will help source and deliver more than 300 trees to the soldiers and their families in time for the Christmas holiday. His donation effort — Thanks With a Tree — functions through Our Heroes’ Dream, a nonprofit that helps support service members across the country.

Martinez, who owns TLG Apparel and organizes the annual Thanks With a Tree drive, started the holiday tradition 11 years ago with an unexpected request from his ex-wife.

“My ex-wife married into the National Guard and they were deployed 11 years ago,” he said. “During that time a family needed a tree and my ex-wife reached out to me and asked if I could deliver a tree for her.”

Martinez and his son delivered the tree, helped the family set it up, and during the trip home, Martinez’s son suggested they turn it into an annual thing.

The following year, Thanks with a Tree was born, with 33 trees delivered to military families in the Valley.

This year, Thanks with a Tree will not only deliver more than 300 trees, but will also branch out of the Valley, delivering trees to both Burbank and San Jose.

The donation drive, however, is no small feat.

Each donation from the public — tax deductible thanks to the Our Heroes Dream partnership — is well-received and very important to Martinez and the tree drive. Each tree runs anywhere from $30-$40 dollars, making the end cost for this year’s drive total around $6,000. That’s a record.

Martinez not only helps fund the cause through partnerships with local businesses and organizations, including the Lions Club, Fresno Rotary, 500 Club, Producers Dairy, The Press Box and other supporters, but also out of his own pocket, often committing extra time away from his business each fall to help meet the needs of the military community.

“Most people donate $100 or $50; that’s where it really helps out,” he said. “The more I can get this out, the more donations I can get.”

Martinez said each year families are extremely thankful for the donations.

“I wish we could do more throughout the year,” Martinez said “These men and women that serve and protect our country, they go in this line of career and it’s not a high-paying career. In some situations, it’s difficult for these families to maintain a good lifestyle.”

Martinez said that by helping with a tree donation, it saves a little bit of money for any of the families potentially struggling.

Martinez added that his goal in the future is to find a tree farm where he can bulk-source trees at a discounted price, as opposed to picking them up where they are available; in the past, Martinez has utilized local home improvement stores and other sources to find trees.

Thanks with a Tree is seeking the final $1,000 for its fundraiser. To donate, visit Thanks With a Tree online.