With the high cost of education crippling many young people with high interest rate student loans, any way that can ease that burden is to be applauded.

That is why the inaugural Festival of Trees of the Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce is to be commended.

And it is also offering people a fun way to spend the holiday or anytime this weekend.

Christmas trees galore have taken over the Ohio University Southern Proctorville Center giving visitors a chance to start the season early while helping contribute to a worthy cause.

Organized by Shirley Dyer, director of the Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce, the event showcases more than 30 trees, most with a particular theme, including trees decorated by all the third grade classes in the county.

Her idea was to bring a new event to the eastern end of the county but also to raise funds for scholarships that will benefit Lawrence County students.

Proceeds from the festival go to an endowed scholarship at Ohio University.

“Every year, we give $500 to one high school senior in Lawrence County,” Dyer said. “We want to continue and enhance that.”

And rightly so. Every dollar helps provide an education, without which productive careers are usually not possible.

So Lawrence Countians, after you have had your Thanksgiving feast and requisite nap, drive to the Proctorville Center to see some beautiful trees and help some students get ahead.