Festival of Trees brings out generosity

Along with nearly 20 Christmas trees, or holiday related collections, the Havre area's ability to give was brightly on display this weekend.

The Festival of Trees in the Holiday Village Mall Friday raised more than $20,000, from the more than 200 attendees, for the Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line.

"It just shows the generosity of our community," Susan Somers, who ran the event, said. "People came to purchase readily. Everything was gone, and it was great."

In the first auction, the winner was allowed to choose whatever tree they wanted. In that auction the Presbyterian Church's tree sold for more than $1,500.

The Presbyterian Church's tree also won the people's choice award, for the third year in a row. That's every single time this event has been held.

The tree donated by the Van Orsdel Methodist Church also sold for more than $1,500.

All of the remaining trees sold for several hundred dollars a piece.

There was one tree that was not for sale itself, but was covered in 74 ornaments that were for sale for $25 each. The resulting $1,850 was to buy the Boys & Girls Club a convection oven.

Many club employees told attendees that the club has been preparing snacks and lunches for kids without an oven or a dishwasher.

The ornaments were not only for a good cause, but each gave purchasers entry into a raffle for free baked goods from Grateful Bread for the next year.

Several ornaments sold at the beginning, though it wasn't long before an anonymous donor bought out the rest of the ornaments on the tree.

The club won't just be getting the oven. Hearing of their kitchen-based woes, another donor gave $500 for the club to buy a dishwasher and another offered to install the dishwasher for free.

Proceeds were also gathered from three tables full of a wide variety of items up for auction, from kid's gift baskets to barbecue sets.

From the doors opening at 6:30 p.m. to the last group heading home about five hours later, so many had such a time giving and socializing that Somers is already excited about next year's festival, scheduled for Dec. 2, 2011.

Along with nearly 20 Christmas trees, or holiday related collections, the Havre area's ability to give was brightly on display this weekend.

The Festival of Trees in the Holiday Village Mall Friday raised more than $20,000, from the more than 200 attendees, for the Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line.

"It just shows the generosity of our community," Susan Somers, who ran the event, said. "People came to purchase readily. Everything was gone, and it was great."

In the first auction, the winner was allowed to choose whatever tree they wanted. In that auction the Presbyterian Church's tree sold for more than $1,500.

The Presbyterian Church's tree also won the people's choice award, for the third year in a row. That's every single time this event has been held.

The tree donated by the Van Orsdel Methodist Church also sold for more than $1,500.

All of the remaining trees sold for several hundred dollars a piece.

There was one tree that was not for sale itself, but was covered in 74 ornaments that were for sale for $25 each. The resulting $1,850 was to buy the Boys & Girls Club a convection oven.

Many club employees told attendees that the club has been preparing snacks and lunches for kids without an oven or a dishwasher.

The ornaments were not only for a good cause, but each gave purchasers entry into a raffle for free baked goods from Grateful Bread for the next year.

Several ornaments sold at the beginning, though it wasn't long before an anonymous donor bought out the rest of the ornaments on the tree.

The club won't just be getting the oven. Hearing of their kitchen-based woes, another donor gave $500 for the club to buy a dishwasher and another offered to install the dishwasher for free.

Proceeds were also gathered from three tables full of a wide variety of items up for auction, from kid's gift baskets to barbecue sets.

From the doors opening at 6:30 p.m. to the last group heading home about five hours later, so many had such a time giving and socializing that Somers is already excited about next year's festival, scheduled for Dec. 2, 2011.