Festival of Trees helps aid children in crisis
—Photo by MARY MALONE Alivia Willhite, 4, visits with Santa during Kinderhaven’s annual Festival of Trees Family Night on Thursday at the Bonner County Fairgrounds.
—Photo by MARY MALONE Felix Carlson, 3, of Sandpoint, runs alongside the red rope separating the crowd from the many trees decorated for Saturday’s auction during Kinderhaven’s annual Festival of Trees Family Night on Thursday at the Bonner County Fairgrounds.
—Photo by MARY MALONE Hundreds of people passed through the doors at the Bonner County Fairgrounds Thursday during Kinderhaven's annual Festival of Trees Family Night to view the approximately two dozen trees decorated for Saturday's auction, visit Santa and enjoy hot cocoa and cookies.
SANDPOINT — About two dozen trees twinkled, decorated in themes like "First Snow," "Tropical Holiday," and even "The Walking Dead."
Kinderhaven's three-day Festival of Trees began Thursday evening at the Bonner County Fairgrounds with the event's annual Family Night, where visitors could view the fully decorated trees, visit with Santa and have their fill of hot cocoa and cookies.
"We are super happy to have Family Night back," said Jennifer Plummer, executive director of Kinderhaven, explaining that it has always been part of the festival except for last year as the event was relocated to the fairgrounds. "It's a tradition that we are never going to let go."
The Festival of Trees is Kinderhaven's biggest fundraiser, which helps the organization continue as a community nonprofit "dedicated to supporting children in crisis and giving them back their right to thrive by providing a safe, secure home in which their emotional, physical and mental well-being are protected and enriched," according to its mission statement.
During the Grand Gala on Saturday, a live auction will be held for guests to bid on the trees, which were each sponsored and decorated by local businesses and organizations.
"We really rely on our community," Plummer said. "The Sandpoint community is so supportive of us and we really couldn't be here without them."
During its 20 years in operation, Kinderhaven has served more than 1,600 children, Plummer said.
The organization, staffed 24 hours a day and open to children at a moment's notice, functions as a group foster home and emergency shelter for children who have been removed from their home for their safety. Plummer said there is no time limit on how long a child can stay at Kinderhaven, so some might stay two days, while others might stay for two years depending on their situation.
The Festival of Trees continues today with a holiday luncheon at 11 a.m. As of Thursday evening, Plummer said a few tickets remained available for the luncheon. Guests will be directed to the silent auction area before lunch and viewing of the live trees. Tickets are $50. Saturday's Grand Gala on Saturday is sold out.