Christmas charity
Festival of Trees helps Meals on Wheels and drives Help Them To Hope
By Sean Hart
Argus Observer
Saturday, November 21, 2009 9:32 PM PST
ONTARIO — Enjoy the holiday atmosphere, shop for decorations, visit Santa and help two local charities — all at the same place: the Festival of Trees.
The annual fundraiser for Malheur County’s Meals on Wheels and the local Help Them To Hope campaign kicks off with a grand opening from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. Wednesday at the Holiday Inn - Ontario, 1249 Tapadera Ave., Ontario. The grand opening features free admission and cinnamon rolls, event co-chair Debbie Blackaby said.
“What we sell are decorated trees, wreaths, centerpieces and Christmas novelty items ... decorations that range from snowmen to Santas to nativity items,” Blackaby said. “We have people (and businesses) sponsor a tree. Then we have a group of people decorate them. We’re still looking for some tree and wreath sponsors.”
All of the proceeds go to Meals on Wheels and Help Them To Hope, she said.
“Last year, we gave a total of $15,000, and we were down last year,” Blackaby said. “The year before we gave about $19,000.”
After the grand opening Wednesday, patrons can view the Christmas merchandise for $1, $.50 for children 10 and younger. The festival will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Santa will visit from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, and cinnamon rolls will be available for purchase throughout the event.
“This year we’re probably going to have about 30 (decorated trees),” along with a collection of wreaths and centerpieces, Blackaby said. “We’ve got ‘The First Snowfall,’ ‘Earthly Angels,’ ‘Copper and Gold,’ and ‘Whimsy Celebration’ (themed trees), to name a few.”
The trees will range in price from $100 to $425, and the wreaths and centerpieces will range from $35 to $75, Blackaby said.
“The smaller items vary — from as low as $5 on up,” she said.
Raffle tickets can also be purchased for $1, or six for $5, for a chance to win a “Taste of the Treasure Valley” basket, a Nintendo Wii game console and a toy box filled with “treasures” made by inmates at Snake River Correctional Institution. Blackaby said inmates also helped set up the facility.
Blackaby, who is co-chairing the Festival of Trees with Barb Olson and Rita Lewis, said she has been a chair for 19 years, but the festival was held for two years prior to her involvement.
“I was actually asked to help by one of the chairs at the time, and I had a desire to help out the Meals on Wheels program and the Help Them To Hope program, and I’ve just stayed with it,” Blackaby said. “Part of my thing is I believe we’re all here to help one another, and I’m trying to do my part.”
Lifestyle Editor Sean Hart can be contacted at SeanH@argusobserver.com. The Us section is now available through the Argus E-Newsletter. Have local lifestyle news and photos sent directly to your e-mail account by signing up at www.argusobserver.com.
