We Care Trim-a-Tree auction raises $88,000

Also, Taylor's Community Thanksgiving Dinner draws a big crowd

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We Care’s 2022 Christmas Trim-A-Tree Festival Auction Raises $88,000

Hundreds of people gathered last Sunday evening in Markland Mall to gaze, marvel, and bid on 69 decorated Christmas trees and wreaths as We Care opened the Christmas season with its Trim-A-Tree Tree Festival Auction.

Various businesses, organizations, and individuals put together the stunning displays using decorating themes reflecting movies, honoring local individuals, and showing the Christmas Spirit in Kokomo. Mariesa Skogland, We Care’s Trim-A-Tree Coordinator, stated that there were 69 trees of different heights along with decorated wreathes in the auction.

The evening started off with a performance by a children’s choir directed by Kokomo’s Nancy Sattler. Then came the presentation of the People’s Choice Award to Tri-Central FCA, whose tree honored longtime Tri-Central sports announcer Jim Butler. The People’s Choice Award is given to the display that has the most money collected prior to the auction as people vote for their favorite tree.

Afterward, auctioneer Tim Miller of Miller and Miller Auctions kicked off the next portion of the festival, assisted by WWKI’s Tammy Lively.

The auction raised $88,755.36 which included the People’s Choice Award votes totaling $5514.26. The highest money bid was the tree, “Once Upon December,” decorated by CRM Properties, which went for $6,600.

Started in 1993, the Trim-A-Tree Festival was created to allow businesses, non-profit groups, and individuals another way to raise money and support the We Care charity. Since the inception of the Trim-A-Tree event close to $2 million has been raised.

For more information about the Trim-A-Tree Festival and We Care go to http://www.wecareonline.org/trim-a-tree/

Hundreds turn out for Taylor Thanksgiving event

The halls of Taylor Elementary School were filled with smiling faces on Nov. 15 as hundreds of people enjoyed a little early Thanksgiving spirit. The school’s annual holiday event featured food, games, and winter gear, and those in attendance got their fill of all of it.

The school set a goal of serving 1,000 people at the event, and if the huge crowd was any indication, that goal just may have been met. People stood in a long line for the meal of turkey and all the fixings, while others opted for nachos, hot wings, or chips and salsa.

Everyone had the opportunity to go home with a new coat, gloves, hats, and socks, as the elementary gymnasium was half filled with winter wear. And while they waited, the kids played cornhole, pop-a-shot, and other games, staffed by high school students.

See additional photos from this event on the Kokomo Lantern Facebook page and group.