'Tis the season: Festival of Trees
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...
Comments
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
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 have a picture almost exactly like yours of my daughter blowing bubbles in that booth--my favorite!
Thanks for sharing!
The Santa/newborn picture is darling, but not as cute as your little boy and his "ooohhh!! GIRLFRIEND!!"
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.
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!