Old Saybrook, CT’s SOS Trees is a 501(c)3 organization of volunteers dedicated to enhancing and preserving our tree canopy. To that end, our goal is to conduct free tree giveaways to Old Saybrook residents and property owners each Spring and Fall. Our most recent event was April 26, 2025, and our next giveaway will be in the fall of 2025. Please check back frequently for updates and sign-ups for the Fall ‘25 giveaway.

Thank you to everyone that made our Spring ‘25 giveaway successful! A note from our founder, Carolyn Lyle, as well as comments from some of our tree recipents:

Thanks to your contributions we were able to give away 43 trees of nine species on April 26. We gave away Eastern Redbud, Eastern Red Cedar, American Hawthorn, American Holly, Baby Blue Spruce, River Birch Heritage, River Birch Little King, Scarlet Oak, and White Fringetree ! The week after the event we received many appreciative emails, some with photos of their trees - your donations and the match will enable us to give away more trees in the fall of 2025…thank you from the roots of our hearts !!

Here are some email excerpts:

“I wanted to thank you all for the SOS activity. I picked up my tree and it is wonderful, Tanya helped me out to get the right one.”

“I picked up my beautiful Eastern Red Bud Tree today and took advantage of this cool rainy day to plant it. 

It looks very beautiful in my somewhat treeless backyard!!”

“I will be very vigilant with watering - I promise!!

Thank you kindly for this wonderful program!!”

“Picked up and planted!  Thank you so much!”

For the Fall giveaway, Old Saybrook residents and property owners will be able to select from brand-new tree selections for free pick up by completing and updated online form or mailing/emailing the completed form found at Free Tree Registration menu. See below pictures from our Spring 2025 giveaway, as well as where our trees were planted in 2024.

Happy tree!

Happy tree from Spring ‘24 Giveaway!