Congin School third-graders got to lend a helping hand to this year’s Festival of Trees on Monday by decorating a tree sponsored by the Animal Refuge League.
The Festival of Trees will celebrate the season from Sunday through Saturday, Dec. 9, at Westbrook-Warren Congregational Church with the decoration of over 50 Christmas trees. The festival, now in its sixth year, will also include a host of entertainment from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. every day.
In preparation for the festival, the Congin School third-graders took turns Monday placing on the tree unique ornaments of mini stockings with doggy biscuits inside and photographs of animals needing adoption from the Animal Refuge League.
Each student got at least two chances to put something on the tree, either a stocking or a picture each time. Most preferred the photographs and took care to learn the names of the animals on the ornaments. When the students were done, the tree was covered from top to bottom with doggy bones and photographs of animals needing homes.
The Festival of Trees was established in 2001 by Westbrook resident Pat Wilson in honor of her mother, Beatrice Elwell, whom Wilson said loved the holidays.
The festival is a fundraiser for Westbrook charities and the Westbrook Together Days. In its first five years, the festival raised approximately $30,000. This year, half the money raised will go to the Westbrook Community Chamber for the city’s summer festival. The other half will go to the Westbrook Food Pantry, Mission Possible and Youth Alternatives.
In its first year, Wilson said, the festival included 14 trees. This year it will include 52 trees sponsored by local businesses and organizations, each tree sponsorship costing $100.
The main events for this year’s Festival of Trees will be the Mystery Gift Tree raffle, the Tips for Charity Luncheon and a festival feast – a dinner with pork, chop suey and bean salad.
All events take place at the church, and are free to the public except for the luncheon and dinner, which are $3 and $10, respectively. Donations are accepted but not required. Westbrook-Warren Congregational Church is located at 810 Main St.
Majae Jeannette, a Congin School third-grader, adds an ornament to the Animal Refuge League tree on Monday.Send questions/comments to the editors.
