When nine-year-old Cody York went with his family to adopt a cat from a local animal shelter around Christmas last year, he left with more than a cat. He left with tears in his eyes and a mission.
“We saw that the animals didn’t have beds or anything to sleep on—just cold, hard floor,” Cody said. He wanted to buy animal beds. When his mom, Megan, explained the cost, Cody thought of a way to raise money. Looking at the family Christmas tree, he suggested, “We should make some wooden ones.”
Thanks to their dad, Chris, a general contractor, Cody and his brother Collin already knew how to use tools and Megan put the call out on Facebook for donated wooden pallets. The response was overwhelming. “So many people we didn’t even know dropped off pallets at our home,” Megan said, adding that even a Newnan pallet company donated.
Cody’s Christmas Trees was born and quickly became a family affair with Cody’s other siblings, Mackenzie, Makaylee, Bentley and Brynlee helping as well. “Everybody chips in with everything,” Cody said.
Last year, Cody’s Christmas Trees donated about 200 beds to local shelters including the Fayette County Animal Shelter and Royal Animal Refuge, which also received a personalized tree. Shelter workers were touched. “They were all crying and hugging Cody,” Megan said.
Of course, Cody’s favorite part is giving the beds to the animals. “It’s just a very good feeling,” he said.
Search Cody’s Christmas Trees on Facebook Marketplace to order a tree to help provide beds for shelter animals.
