The North Bend and Coos Bay fire departments will be retrieving discarded Christmas trees again this holiday season.

Coos Bay Fire Department personnel will pick up trees on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2006.

Discarded trees that are on the curb by 9 a.m. will be picked up from households within the city limits. Residents are encouraged to leave canned food donations, which the firefighters will use to assist others in the community.

Those wanting to participate in the free service are encouraged to call the Fire Department, 269-1191, to leave addresses for pickup.

In North Bend, pickups are scheduled this Saturday and on Saturday, Jan. 7. North Bend residents are asked to place the trees on the sidewalks on either Saturday for pickup. Contributions will be accepted and all of the money received from this activity will be used to fund the fire department's “Kids for Christmas” program. The program is a community outreach that provides food and gifts for less fortunate families in North Bend.

Some of the trees picked up also will be used by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to enhance fish habitat in local streams.