Fort Wayne business spreads holiday cheer

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - Neighbors helping neighbors. That’s what the season’s all about. Sunday afternoon, staff at Preferred Auto on Illinois Road and Lima Road spread a little holiday cheer around the community.

"We wouldn’t have had a tree," said Julie Dennis, who came to get a tree.

It's families like Julie Dennis’s that are the reason for Preferred Auto’s Christmas Tree giveaway.

"It means everything," Dennis said. "We have a five-year-old with Autism and a three-year-old, and for the last couple of days now, our five year old has been asking for a Christmas tree."

Preferred Auto did a Christmas tree giveaway for 10 years but stopped seven years ago. However, in the Christmas spirit, they decided to bring it back this year.

“A lot of these families have to make choices, and sometimes unfortunate choices," said Jay Leonard, the owner of Preferred Auto. "Do I give my kids a Christmas tree or do I get them a gift, and now, we’re allowing these families to not have to make that choice."

Staff said they were expecting more than 300 people to show up at both locations. Families could pick out their Christmas tree, listen to music, and even enjoy some Italian ice.

“It’s just wonderful," said Chris Green, who came with a friend to pick up a tree. "It just puts a huge smile on my face knowing that everyone’s just going to have a better Christmas."

At the Illinois Road Preferred Auto, they still had some trees left over at 1 P.M., but staff said they will give them away until they’re gone.