As Andrian Townsend waited for his family to join him at the Helena Boy Scout Troop 2 Christmas tree sale, he spoke about how important the Christmas traditions are to him.

“It keeps the family close together, with the celebration of Christmas,” he said. “We teach the kids the true meaning of Christmas.”

This is the first year Townsend’s family picked out a tree at the Helena sale. They were longtime Birmingham residents who moved to Helena months ago for the smaller-town feel. Picking out a tree is set to become a holiday tradition, Townsend said.

“Last year we put up a fake tree, and we just can’t do it,” he said.

The tree sale provides families all over Helena with that same pine scent every single Christmas.

The Christmas tree fundraiser has been a Helena holiday staple for about six years, said troop leader Larry Faulkner. This is the first year Troop 2 is doing it, however, because this is the first Christmas since they split off from Troop 532.

The troop is hoping to net between $5,000-$8,000 to buy new tents and a new trailer. The trees, which are from the north woods of Wisconsin, are selling for $45-$110. The troop ordered 300 trees and has sold 105 so far, Faulkner said.

“The trees are more hardy and hold up better with the cold weather,” he said.

While Faulkner and the other troop leaders are heading up the sale, the boys help out by working shifts. Doing that work gives them a sense of responsibility, Faulkner said.

“It’s teaching them about helping the troop and contributing to the community,” he said.