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# Buy a tree and help someone get sober
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/buy-a-tree-and-help-someone-get-sober/
- Published: 2003-12-12T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T03:19:21.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Environment, Venice, #archive-import

*By Daily Press staff*

A Christmas tree fundraising lot run by the Delancey Street Foundation has been closed, but two other local lots remain open for business this holiday season.

The tree lot at Pico and Cloverfield boulevards has closed after operating during several holiday seasons, but the non-profit organization will continue to use their lots at the corner of Abbott Kinney and Venice Boulevard in Venice and at Pacific and Main streets in Santa Monica.

Delancey is considered the nation’s leading self-help, residential education center for former substance abusers and ex-convicts, officials say. For 32 years, Delancey Street has developed and refined a model residential educational facility to turn around the lives of the long-term substance abusers and felons.

Delancey Street provides academic and vocational skills, instruction on positive attitudes and values, and access to job opportunities that residents need to re-enter society and live legitimately, productively and successfully. All food, clothing, shelter, education, vocational training, emotional help and recreation are provided at no cost to the residents or taxpayers.

One of the most unique features of Delancey Street, officials say, is that they have never accepted any government funds. Instead, they generate most of their income from training school businesses, which serve to teach residents marketable skills and form donations, and help from businesses and friends.

Delancey Street’s population has almost 2,000 residents in five locations, with facilities in New Mexico, North Carolina, New York and Los Angeles. The Los Angeles facility currently has about 300 residents.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 12, 2003.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/121203.pdf?ref=smdp.com)