PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — During the first weekend of December, more than 60 unique Christmas trees will fill the Northern Maine Community College’s gymnasium for St. Apollonia Dental Clinic’s sixth annual Festival of Trees.
The festival has served as a fundraiser for the clinic’s yearly operational expenses. St. Apollonia aims to close the gap between what MaineCare — the state’s version of Medicaid — does not cover for children’s dental services. Ninety percent of the clinic’s client base are on MaineCare or without dental insurance.
Last year the Festival of Trees raised around $100,000, a substantial increase from the $10,000 raised during the first festival in 2014. The majority of funds raised this year will go toward St. Apollonia’s current renovation to make room for a sixth dental operatory.
Dr. Norma Desjardins (left) and Sherry Chamberland pose in front of a preview of St. Apollonia dental clinic’s Community Spirit Tree on Nov. 20. More than 60 businesses, organizations, and individuals will donate trees and prizes to the clinic’s annual Festival of Trees, to be held Dec. 6-8, at NMCC.
(Staff photo/Melissa Lizotte)
Dr. Norma Desjardins, founder and executive director of St. Apollonia, said that the clinic decided to add more space to its practice after seeing more instances of teens and young adults needing dental care. In response to the demand, St. Apollonia hired a second full-time dentist — Dr. Qaiser Ahmed — to work alongside Dr. Grace Yang.
Currently, the clinic serves 4,000 active patients and Desjardins estimates that the new operatory will allow the practice to add 1,600 to 2,000 new patients. She said the operatory will likely be completed by the end of the year.
The winners of this music-themed Christmas tree, sponsored by the University of Maine at Presque Isle, also received all gifts underneath, including a record player, records and CDs, a rocking chair and two tickets to an upcoming Ozzy Osbourne concert in Bangor. UMPI was one of 69 sponsors to contribute trees and gifts to the 5th annual St. Apollonia Dental Clinc’s Festival of Trees in 2018.
(Staff Photo/Melissa Lizotte)
“We’re happy that we’ll be able to provide more much-needed services,” Desjardins said. “I like to say that every penny or dollar raised [during the festival] goes right back into the mouths of kids.”
People who visit the Festival of Trees, being held Dec. 6-8, will see Christmas trees from 64 businesses, organizations and individuals, who all serve as event sponsors. At least 40 sponsors have been part of the festival since its inception.
St. Apollonia will honor sponsors who have contributed trees for five consecutive years — Central Aroostook Association, Crown of Maine Quilers, Presque Isle Fish and Game Club, Thompson Hamel, LLC and the University of Maine at Presque Isle — with special ribbons on their trees.
One of the most unique Christmas trees featured during the 5th annual St. Apollonia Festival of Trees in 2018 was an upside-down “Wizard of Oz,” sponsored by North Country Auto, meant to resemble the famous twister that brings Dorothy to the land of Oz in the film.
(Staff Photo/Melissa Lizotte)
Organizers said that the number of tree sponsors and people who attend the Festival of Trees have grown throughout the years largely due to increased awareness and support of St. Apollonia’s mission.
“We love seeing everyone’s creativity and enthusiasm about their trees,” Desjardins said. “The support for this festival, from the businesses and organizations and people who purchase tickets, has been amazing.”
The Festival of Trees kicks off 4-9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, and will continue 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Dec. 7, and 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Dec. 8. Volunteers will begin drawing the names of tree winners around 2:30 p.m. Dec. 8. St. Apollonia will broadcast the drawing live on their Facebook page and will notify winners shortly afterward. They encourage winners to pick up their trees that afternoon to allow for a quick cleanup.
The Presque Isle Elks Lodge sponsored a chef’s tree (right) for the St. Apollonia Festival of Trees in 2018 that included gifts of cooking supplies and a grill for the lucky winner.
(Staff Photo/Melissa Lizotte)
Each tree will be decorated with a particular theme and feature prizes that folks can win along with the trees. St. Apollonia is preparing the Community Spirit Tree, with the theme “Christmas in The County.” The garland has 70 ornaments that feature the names of Aroostook County towns. Prizes will include an iPad mini, 100 gallons of fuel oil, gift cards and other items from surrounding community businesses.
A total of 248 people have won trees and prizes during past festivals. Sherry Chamberland, a member of the St. Apollonia board of directors and manager of NorStar Title Company, sees the Festival of Trees as a fun holiday event that has become part of many families’ yearly traditions.
“Families love that it’s an event that people of all ages can attend,” Chamberland said. “It truly is the magic of Christmas that weekend.”
Tickets for the Festival of Trees will be available at the entrance to the NMCC gym during all three days of the festival. The cost for a string of 10 tickets is $5 each.
The Aroostook Beverage Company, based in Presque Isle, contributed a “man cave” themed Christmas tree (right) and gifts to the St. Apollonia Dental Clinic’s Festival of Trees last year.
(Staff Photo/Melissa Lizotte)
