Rockefeller Tree to be Made Into Morris Homes

When Joseph Balku agreed to have his 80-foot tall, ten-ton Norway spruce used as the Christmas Tree in Rockefeller Center, it was because he believed it was something everyone would see.

"It is something the whole country can enjoy," Balku said.

And now that the holidays are past, Balku's donation will now be enjoyed permanantly by Morris County families who need homes.

According to a report by the Daily Record, Tishman Speyer, the company that co-owns and operates Rockefeller Center, is donating the lumber milled from this year’s Rockefeller tree to Morris Habitat for Humanity to be used as building material for local homes.

Balku, a resident of Mount Olive since 1972, said that his tree survived Hurricane Sandy due to the timely wrapping of the limbs before the high winds arrived. That preparation  ultimately allowed the tree to survive to be used for Christmas celebration, and now, to build homes in Morris County. 

The Daily Record report said the tree will create 600 to 900 two-by-fours that will be used to build two homes in Mount Olive and three in Madison, according to Morris Habitat Executive Director Blair Schleicher Bravo.

For updates on the Christmas tree lumber, friend Morris Habitat on Facebook and follow them on Twitter, or check out the Morris Habitat for Humanity site.