Despite drizzling rain and chilly weather, approximately 300 people showed up for Angelina Beautiful/Clean’s annual Arbor Day tree giveaway in the Lufkin Mall parking lot Thursday morning.

AB/C partnered with Campbell Timber Management and the Texas Forest Service for the event, which lasted from 9 a.m. until 11:45 a.m., when AB/C ran out of trees.

As of 8:45 a.m., a line at least 20 cars long stretched through the mall parking lot. According to one volunteer, people began showing up before 8 a.m.

Campbell Timber Management and the Texas Forest Service donated an additional 1,000 trees, bringing the total number of trees given away to 11,000.

Approximately 20 volunteers helped keep the giveaway running smoothly. According to Tony Moline, executive director for AB/C, it is currently estimated that 300 people showed up to receive trees.

Several other agencies participated in the event, including the Salvation Army, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, Texas Parks and Wildlife, Angelina County and Pit Stop Barbecue, who donated lunch to all the volunteers.

In addition to the trees given away, between 500 and 600 students in Angelina County schools  received trees to plant as part of Arbor Day festivities and 25 trees were planted in communities across the county. Three hundred trees were donated to the Texas Department of Transportation.

“This couldn’t have been done without the volunteers, Campbell and the Texas Forest Service,” Moline said. “It’s this kind of giving in the community that makes it so special.”

Larissa Graham’s e-mail address is lgraham@lufkindailynews.com.