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ATTLEBORO - The sale of Christmas trees as a fundraising venture has brought mixed blessings for area organizations.

While one church group had to curtail its annual tree sale this season because of higher costs and fewer customers last year, several Boy Scout troops say their sales have remained strong over the years and have been a major source of financial support for scout programs.

Sharon Dufault of First Baptist Church in North Attleboro, who served on the church committee that organized the annual Christmas tree sale there, said the church had been selling trees since 1991, but decided not to this season because of problems last year.

The supplier from Nova Scotia that the church had been doing business with stopped delivering to the United States last year, Dufault said, and a new supplier charged a lot more for the trees.

As a result, the church had to increase its prices, and last year organizers were left with a lot of unsold trees and not much money. Instead of the usual profit of about $2,000, the church made only $400, Dufault said. The committee decided such a small amount wasn't worth the effort.

Besides, she said, "it's cold out there in December," and that was difficult for the mostly elderly volunteers.

Without the church sale, Dufault decided to put up an artificial tree this year.

But she said, "It's very sad. I really miss my tree."

Scout troops in the area have also been selling trees for many years and have had no problems so far with suppliers, who get their trees from Maine, Nova Scotia or other parts of Canada.

Business has been going well as they head into their busiest time this weekend, the peak days for people to buy trees so they can put them up two weeks before Christmas.

"This Saturday will be very, very busy," predicted John Duarte, scoutmaster for Troop 25, which sells trees in the parking lot of All Saints Episcopal Church in Attleboro.

Duarte said the troop usually sells 275 to 300 trees every year and is on track to hit that tally this season.

He credits the abundance of volunteers, the good location on North Main Street and the many repeat customers who come back year after year to help the scouts. All the profits go to the youngsters, he said, and help pay for camping trips and equipment.

Troops in other communities also rely on tree sales as a major source of revenue. Paul Hoy of Mansfield, who is on the committee that coordinates the sale for Troop 55, said the troop orders 300 trees every year and usually sells them all.

The cold weather is not a problem for the scouts, he said, because they camp out once a month all year long and simply bundle up as though they were camping out.

"They are a hardy group," Hoy said.

The scouts, he said, greet customers at the gate of the tree lot, which this year is located at the corner of Route 106 and Copeland Drive, and then help them find the right tree.

"Part of the fun is trying to match the tree up to their expectations," he said, and the smell of pine adds to the fun.

"You really get in the Christmas spirit," he said.

He and other scout leaders say their sales have been consistent over the years and apparently have not been hurt by the arrival of home improvement retail chains that also sell trees at their garden centers.

"We get a lot of people who buy from us each year because they like to see their money go to help the scouts," Hoy said.

In North Attleboro, Boy Scout Troop 23 is selling trees on Route 1 again this year and expects to have a strong season, according to John Newbury, who has helped coordinate the effort for years.

Sales are even a bit stronger than in years past, Newbury said, and often depend on the weather.

"A little bit of snow gets people into the Christmas spirit," he said.

Trees at the various scout-sponsored lots sell for $25 to $45, depending on size, but average in the $30 to $35 range. The tree lots are generally open from 5 to 9 p.m. during the week and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends.