HOULTON, Maine — Southern Aroostook Cultural Arts Project, in conjunction with the Health Services Foundation, will be holding its third annual Festival of Trees fundraiser event at ‘Visions’ Art Gallery located in Market Square in Houlton and at Houlton Regional Hospital.
“We are pleased to be working with the Health Services Foundation on this very worthwhile event to kick-off the holiday season,” said Karin Cohen of SACAP.
“We have always enjoyed working with the gallery in the past as our relationship with them goes back to several Silent Auction Art Shows that people really enjoyed attending; always having that challenge of being the last-minute high bidder for great art. Last year we started this new venture partnership by doing the trees to help raise money for our hospital and support the art community,” said Elizabeth Dulin, Foundation executive director.
This year’s event will start on Friday, Nov. 13, at ‘Visions’, located at 66 Main St.; as well as at the Houlton Regional Hospital, 20 Hartford St. Trees will be displayed at Visions Gallery, on the main concourse at the hospital and outside the Foundation office just off the main concourse.
Raffle tickets are $2 each or five for $10 and are available for purchase at ‘Visions’ and at the Health Services Foundation. You can also purchase them online at www.sacap.us using the link provided on the ‘Calendar of Events’. Proceeds from the raffle will be split equally between these two very worthy non-profit programs.
Participants can place their tickets in containers that are placed under the tree or trees of their choice. The drawing of the winners will take place at both venues on Saturday, Nov. 28 at 4 p.m. and winners will receive the tree with all decorations on and around the tree.
Dulin said 13 trees have been committed to be showcased at Houlton Regional, and the generous donors include: Chester M. Kearney, “Carol of the Birds”; East Grand Health Center, “Homemade for the Holidays”; Smith and Wesson, “Happy Christmas”; TD Bank, a “TD Bank Christmas”; Blue Moose Restaurant; Houlton Regional Hospital, “Snowman”; Walmart; Mardens; Machias Savings Bank; The Horn Restaurant; Red Hat Ladies Society, “Children”; Houlton Regional Hospital Housekeeping, “Angels”; and Hogan Tire.
“We hope to have even more by debut time!” Dulin added. “With trees on display in both places, everyone will want to be sure and check both to decide just which tree you would like to take a chance on winning, or choose several for that matter.”
Funds received for the Foundation will support the need for a new coagulation instrument for Houlton Regional Hospital’s laboratory.
“We all know the human blood system is very complex as is the instrument that will perform testing for bleeding abnormalities, monitoring of anticoagulant therapy, and checking for blood clots. Accurate, reliable testing will result in appropriate patient management and care. The emergence of new anticoagulant medication is also requiring state-of-the-art testing technology for its monitoring, making the new instrument of critical importance,” Dulin said.
Funds received for Visions Gallery will continue their efforts in supporting the arts. “Works on display at the gallery showcase amazing local talent allowing anyone who visits to enjoy many types of media to delight their visual senses,” she said.
Support by the community for the Festival of Trees has been strong in the past and organizers are hoping this year it’s even better. “We hope everyone will stop by and see the amazing work that went into putting these together to support two really great organizations in our community,” Dulin said.
Set-up of the trees will be happening at both locations on Friday Nov. 13, and Saturday, Nov. 14 Visions will set up Friday, from noon to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Houlton hospital will set up both days from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Those who would like to donate a decorated tree should contact Visions at 532-9119 or Dulin at the Health Services Foundation at 521-2147. Registration forms for donating a tree, are available at ‘Visions’, and can also be downloaded from their website.
