The Christmas season is right around the corner with many anticipating bright and festive decorations along with the warm feelings of thankfulness and generosity that come with this time of year. But for owners Ryan and Caitlin Jones, they continue to ensure that those celebrating are enjoying the full Christmas experience. Since 2014, Peace Christmas Trees has been selling and delivering freshly grown Christmas trees each year out of Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church in Marietta. Now celebrating their 10th anniversary, the two take pride in spreading joy while nurturing the spirit of the season for Atlanta families.
“As a Christmas tree lot owner and a Christian, the Christmas season holds a deep significance for me. It’s a time of joy, family, and togetherness, and I take immense pride in being part of that experience,” Ryan said. “Each tree I sell represents not just a product, but a living symbol of the season — something I’ve loved, tended to, and cared for long before it finds its way into a family’s home.”
Having a childhood history of growing and selling Christmas trees, Ryan wanted to continue delivering on those traditional Holiday values that were instilled in him at a young age. Growing up selling trees on his family’s tree farms, he saw firsthand the significance of what the tree means to so many people. However, when he began his career as an Atlanta Police Officer, he quickly saw a way to turn his experience harvesting trees into a way to benefit local women and children in need.
“As an Atlanta Police Officer, I worked off-duty providing security for a woman who managed a large affordable housing community…She encouraged me to sell trees in 2014 so that I could donate trees to a non-profit that she managed called ‘Operation Peace’,” Ryan said. “That first year, I sold 36 trees in Buckhead…Caitlin and I then gave 36 trees to the families of Operation Peace…For the first few years, we supported Operation Peace exclusively but grew to support nonprofits throughout the city.”
Peace Christmas Trees has experienced nothing but growth and expansion year-over-year. Ryan and Caitlin currently have three different Christmas tree farms located in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York respectively. For the past eight years, the Jones’ trees have sold out completely with a large portion of the proceeds primarily supporting affordable housing communities across Atlanta. With a growing customer base, Ryan and Caitlin assembled a whole crew of people to work with them assisting with sales and deliveries comprised of fellow first responders, family members, and friends. This year, they continue this tradition along with supporting Mt. Bethel UMC’s missions and two local battered women shelters.
“Seeing families gather around their chosen tree is incredibly fulfilling. It’s heartwarming to witness the excitement of children as they pick out the perfect tree, knowing it will be the centerpiece of their holiday celebrations,” Ryan said. “For me, Christmas is also about celebrating love, hope, and the birth of Christ…Our hope is to build long lasting relationships that allow us to share our faith. Our mission is to operate a business that allows us to serve our community with excellent service and share Christ’s love.”
To learn more about Peace Christmas Trees and their mission, visit www.PeaceChristmasTrees.com. To contact them, email info@peacechristmastrees.com or call 404-317-3007.
