LAC LA BICHE – Three months after the Festival of Trees event wrapped up, members of the organizing committee presented cheques amounting to a total of $66,083 to various community groups who volunteered their time to help during the popular holiday event.
Prior to receiving the cheques on Feb. 25, representatives of the community groups gathered in the foyer of the Bold Centre.
Carol St. Jean, treasurer with the Festival of Trees committee, said the volunteers who received the cheques of appreciation helped in various ways during the festival. Volunteer jobs included participating in fundraising, working coat check, welcoming visitors, helping with kids’ activities, and setting up and taking down the colourful Christmas trees.
The amount of money each organization receives out of the $66,083.24 raised through the festival varies and depends on how many days volunteers worked and the number of club members who turned out to volunteer.
Volunteers play a pivotal role in ensuring that the Festival of Trees can be put on every year, said St. Jean.
“This wouldn’t even exist without the volunteers.”
The Lac La Biche chapters of Scouts, 4-H and the Rotary Club were among the organizations that received money.
Terry Zitnak, the group commissioner for Lac La Biche Scouts, was happy when the child and youth focused organization received a donation of $2,841 for its volunteer work.
The money will be put towards programming for the organization.
Zitnak explained that the scouting group has different events taking place in the coming months, including a scout camp in Edmonton in May, and a canoe circuit in the summer.
“It just goes towards our different activities that carry some costs with them,” she said.
During the 2024 Festival of Trees, members of Lac La Biche Scouts helped take down trees, the moved boxes, and sold tickets.
The Lac La Biche Rotary Club received $1,170 for their work selling tickets during the 2024 Festival of Trees. Rotary president Tim Polzin said the money will be put toward community initiatives.
The Rotary Club has a presence at the Festival of Trees every year and members enjoy helping.
“We try to do the best that we can for the community . . . We are involved with many community projects,” said Polzin.
Amanda Harris, club leader for the Lac La Biche 4-H Club, said roughly half the members of the club showed up to help at the Festival of Trees. Like the Rotary Club, 4-H also received a cheque for $1,170, which Harris said will be used to help with purchasing prizes for 4-H Achievement Day, and other initiatives.
“It goes back to the kids,” said Harris.
