literal acres of lights, trees and smiles
now I personally would never take my preemie out and hand him over to a complete stranger, but that aside, this made for a great photo op
my baby and his best girl
I volunteered here one year and it was the best Christmas ever--the smiles were infectious and the expressions of utter and complete joy I witnessed will stay with me forever
our quilt--disguised as a "tree" wreath--brought in generous donations
for Jules: you might be a redneck if you bought this tree...
14 comments:
I gotta get me a bubble budy
Yay! You posted the redneck tree! I loved that one.
So cool.
How does one enter a tree? Do you have to be asked or do you just sign up? They sell them for charity, right? Do people take them away decorated or do you break them down... How have I never really heard of this before?
R
Great photos. Thanks for posting them. I didn't get to go this year. I guess now I owe you some candy window pics.
Thanks for posting the great pics.
Here's the story. You have to request to do a tree...and there is ALWAYS a waiting list to get in. Most years I volunteer on set-up day as well and they have people on the waiting list all ready to go--and WANTING to be called in as back-up if one of the others don't show by 4:00.
There is a VIP night the Tuesday before it opens and many prominent business leaders and such attend and open the bidding. There is also an auction that night.
This year I believe the majority of the trees were bid on and sold the first day. ALL of the trees will go and several are donated back to the hospital to decorate for the kids.
Besides the trees there are wreaths (our quilt was entered as a wreath), small trees, gingerbread houses and collectibles. There is a kids corner (where the bubble wand happens and kids can call and talk to Santa's elves), a sweet shop and a gift shop. The play houses are also always a big hit. There are also two venues where various people perform.
Here's the best part. Because a wonderful old lady willed a generous trust--whose interest pays to rent the building--and because it's all run on donations and by volunteers, 100 PERCENT of the money--and I think it's well over a million dollars--goes right to the kids.
Anyway, everything is over by Saturday night so the next day many of the volunteers and their families come and gather up the trees (one of the requirements is that everything is wired on and you must place your required tree stand on a large plastic bag) in the bags and deliver them to the buyers. This is a huge undertaking in and of itself but people are so wonderful to donate their time and energy to make this happen.
A lot of the trees are memorial trees for former patients--some with happy outcomes, some not. Many people who lose loved ones do trees even if they are not affiliated with PCMC. Some trees are done by youth and church groups, scouts, and school classes. It is fun just to walk through the aisles and watch. I love to watch the faces of the kids as they walk through as well.
It really is the neatest thing and I'm happy to be a small part of it.
I'd like to see who bought the redneck tree.
I'd like to see who bought the redneck tree.
I RILLI want to know :o)
The pictures are great! The Quilt--stunning! People with sewing skills amaze me...
I have a picture almost exactly like yours of my daughter blowing bubbles in that booth--my favorite!
Thanks for sharing!
I've never heard of anything like this! What a fantastic way to get into the Christmas spirit :)
The Santa/newborn picture is darling, but not as cute as your little boy and his "ooohhh!! GIRLFRIEND!!"
Very very cool. Except the photo of the little girl who's getting beamed up to the North Pole. That's a little creepy. (I'd like to try it myself!) Glad you explained how it works.
The quilt was a collaborative effort--I designed it and passed out blocks for lots of people to do (thanks Lo).
As for next year, I'd love for you to come. We are hoping to do a GNO (Girls' Night Out) tree. It should be so much fun.
Anything constructed with Slim Jims wouldn't last too long in our house. "Snap Into A Slim Jim! Whenever I hear that urging, I feel that I must obey.
One day I'll brave the crowds and take my kids to Houston's Nutcracker Market which is similar to this. I love this kind of stuff and your quilt is so fabu!
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