Why not extend the area’s “buy local” initiative to the purchase of Christmas trees? Especially so when a local organization that helps the community is selling them.

Sure the Christmas trees — Fraser firs grown in western North Carolina — may cost a little more than those available at big-box retailers in the area. Boy Scout Troop 99, sponsored by Washington’s First United Methodist Church, began selling Christmas trees, priced from $40 to $120, Wednesday. After taking Thanksgiving off, the Scouts resume Christmas tree sales today. Buying Christmas trees at those big-box retailers means more profit for those retailers. Buying Christmas trees from the Scouts means the profits from those sales will help send Scouts to camp and help pay for other activities. Some of those Scouts may be your neighbors, students, employees and relatives.

Many Scout projects benefit the area. Take Thomas McKeel’s Eagle Scout project for example. That project helps area residents prepare for natural disasters by providing them with supplies such as buckets, Mylar blankets, batteries, flashlights, toiletries and cleaning supplies. Huber Nichols’ Eagle Scout project resulted in beautifying the grounds of the Beaufort-Hyde-Martin Regional Library’s headquarters in downtown Washington by installing stepping stones, mulch, a bench and an arbor in the vacant lot next to the library.

So, instead of buying a Christmas tree from a big-box retailer and seeing that money go into a corporate account, consider buying a Christmas tree from Troop 99. That money will remain in the community, where it will do some good.

Hurry, though. The 220 Christmas trees the troop bought probably won’t last long. And when those trees are gone, feel free to buy other Christmas trees at other local vendors.

The Troop 99 Christmas tree sales lot is next to the dental office at 629 W. 15^th St. The lot is open Fridays and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. The lot is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays.