Festival of Trees

By Theresa Curry, For The News Virginian
Published: October 28, 2008

Begin the holiday season with a gesture of hope and compassion, get a good start on your shopping, have a glass of wine with your friends, hear local musical talent and support a community service organization, all at once.
The First Annual Festival of Trees, a fundraiser for the Augusta Medical Center’s Hospice of Shenandoah, taps the creativity of the area’s civic, church, social and business groups. Each group decorates a tree with its own unique theme, then offers it for auction, along with other gift ideas to benefit the work of the hospice.
Richard Adams, front man for the popular Boogie Kings, will act as master of ceremonies for the reception at Fairfax Hall, presenting jazz singer Llyn Walker, pianists Liz Barnes and Donna Riley, stand-up comedian Marsha Howard and harpist Virginia Bethune.
As volunteers from Afton to Mint Springs put the finishing bows and ornaments on their spectacular trees, one group’s creation has already been completed and unveiled. The Westminster Presbyterian Church Care and Share Group has festooned a tree with $1 bills, fanned into a decorative shape and fastened with bits of red berries and bows.
“We’re hoping a bank might bid on this tree to put in its lobby until Christmas, then donate it either to hospice or a needy family,” said Joan Pullen who, with other members of the long-standing group, carefully pleated 100 crisp, new dollar bills into a fan shape. Church member Jane Pfost points out that the bills are real, and they’re held into shape by a tiny piece of tape, so they’re ready to recycle back into the economy by the highest bidder. The green of the new bills is set off by the bright red bows and berry clusters that Care and Share group members assembled.
Before pleating even the first dollar bill, the group scoured local shops for the best tree. The trees are artificial, since they must last until Christmas, and they wanted to make sure the small fortune they were assembling would not grace an inferior model. A helpful clerk brought out an outdated tree, still in its box from last year, and assured them it would actually be fuller and better quality than this year’s trees, which are targeted for a more frugal buying public.
“We chose it by its appearance on the box,” said Bill Pfost, who did all the fastening of the money fans to the tree. “I told them if it looked like the picture on the box, that was fine; but if it fell short, I was bringing it right back.” The tree turned out to be as promised, and after several weeks of preparation, the last fan was fastened to the tree in the Pullens’ kitchen.
Like many families in the area, members of the group have been touched somehow by AMC Hospice of Shenandoah.
Bill Pfost is on the Augusta Medical Center Board of Directors that oversaw the construction of the Hospice House for those in a situation that prevents them from spending their last days in their own home.
“Ever since the day the building went up, it has been used fully,” he said. He likes the informal, home-like design of the building, with playrooms for children and comfortable spaces that invite closeness and provide reassurance.
Joan and Jim Pullen experienced the difficult situation of an elderly couple, who were confused and terrified when confronted by the terminal illness of one.
“This is never a good situation,” said Joan Pullen, “but hospice workers were able to give them so much help and guidance that it relieved a lot of their fears.”
The Nov. 14 event, at Fairfax Hall in Waynesboro, begins at 6 p.m. and includes the auction, a gift shop, refreshments and entertainment. Tickets are $25 per person, which includes a couple of raffle tickets. The auction is at 8 p.m.
Bring the whole family to see the trees on Family Day Saturday before they’re picked up, and shop for crafts, gifts and baked goods while listening to the Spring Hill Hillbillies, Bill Wellington, and Barbara Spilman Lawson. Family day tickets are $5.