The Boys and Girls Club hosted the Festival of Trees and Holiday Market this weekend where locals could shop, sell or just admire the scenery.

 The club was covered from head to toe in decorations, and filled from wall-to-wall with tables where locals could shop. It was beautiful, and with the Holiday Market pushed together with the Festival of Trees, there was something special in the air.

 

Manager of Events and Volunteers Jessica Nash says that putting the two events together seemed natural.

"This is the 7th year that we've done the festival of trees and the third year we've done the holiday market. I wanted to put them together so we could have people coming and checking out the trees and shopping at our vendors, and also because the trees are beautiful and i love having them up."

 

In addition to providing a good time and some beautiful scenery, money earned from the event goes right back into the youth of Airdrie

"All of the money that we raise from selling the tables and selling the raffle tickets and sponsorship for the trees goes directly into youth and children programs," comments Nash.

 

As well it should, with so many youth volunteering to make the events a success. Volunteers of all ages were dressed in their Christmas best to provide help and services to anyone needing them.

"A lot of our volunteers are alumni boys and girls club, so people who have been with us forever and have come through our program. The other half would be new leaders in our community, so people who are new to volunteering and children volunteering for the first time."

 

Nash says they hope to reach a similar goal every year for money raised.

"We always have a goal to try to get to. This year is kind of the same as last year, so right around the $8,000 mark."

 

 

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