The Jack Daniel Distillery is building Christmas trees made from emptied whiskey barrels to help junior-enlisted service members and families get home for the holidays.

The top barrel from each tree built – nine in all – will be auctioned off, with the proceeds going to the distillery’s Operation Ride Home program, which partners with the Armed Services YMCA. (Note: Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, such travel is temporarily suspended by the military, but money raised will help service members travel home when bans are lifted.)

The fund provides air fare or pre-paid debit cards to pre-determined service members who have a financial need.

Operation Ride Home began 10 years ago when Jack Daniel built a 26-foot-tall tree from 140 American white oak whiskey barrels in Lynchburg, Tenn., where the distillery is located. This tree will again go up, along with replicas in eight other U.S. cities: Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Dallas, Boston, Las Vegas, Tampa, Cleveland and Nashville.

Since the program began back in 2011, Operation Ride Home has helped send more than 8,500 junior-enlisted service members from all branches of the military and their families travel home, thanks to raising $1.8 million in donations.

The auction is under way and donations are appreciated. Details are available online.