On December 5, 2020 CMAC helped distribute Christmas Trees donated by Chicago's Christmas Ship delivered from northern Michigan by the U.S. Coast Guard

            For the second year running the Chicago Maritime Arts Center (CMAC) is proud to assist the annual Chicago’s Christmas Ship in bringing Christmas trees and some holiday cheer to deserving Chicago families.  Earlier this week the Coast Guard Ship Mackinaw was loaded with 1,200 trees and sailed from its home port of Cheboygan, Michigan on its annual Operation Fall Retrieve -- to exchange large summer navigational buoys with smaller buoys, less likely to be damaged by winter ice. 

 

            As part of this annual operation the Mackinaw will deliver to Chicago trees from northern Michigan in remembrance of the Christmas Tree Ship the Rouse Simmons, which sank in a storm on November 23, 1912, with the loss of its Captain and crew of 16.  The trees are purchased with funds raised by Chicago’s Christmas Ship Committee who also coordinates the event.  For more information on Chicago’s Christmas Ship go to http://www.christmasship.org

 

            On Saturday, December 5, CMAC will receive 150 Christmas trees at Navy Pier and distribute them to the South Shore, Humboldt Park, Pilsen, and McKinley Park neighborhoods with the help of CMAC volunteers and community partners The Lost Boyz, 12th Ward Alderman George Cardenas, and Union League Boys & Girls Club – Club One.

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           Special thanks to CMAC Executive Director Toby Lindo, CPS Teacher Ricky Amaro, CMAC Program Coordinator Patrick McBriarty and CMAC Instructor and Volunteer Steve Stubig for making this happen.