Festival of Trees spreads holiday cheer while supporting local families

The third annual Festival of Trees and Silent Auction to benefit the Coshocton Firefighters Toy Chest was held Nov. 8 at the Coshocton Moose.

Tammy Gore and her husband sponsor the event and purchase everything that is not donated. Tammy comes up with the themes every year.

"Sometimes I come up with just color themes. Every tree is not necessarily a theme," she said. "We started decorating on Tuesday, and we finished last night (Friday) at about two in the morning. We have 56 trees this year. We even had seven trees donated by other organizations. I have a group of ladies that help me tremendously. They know how to do it, and they are wonderful women to work with. Sharon Kaufman, Carla Aronhalt, Pam Raber and Kim Buday come to help and say, 'What do we need to do?' It's chaos at first, putting the trees together, fluffing them. Later that evening they put the lights on them, and I come in with the totes of decorations."

Tammy Gore spends a year collecting items for the trees. She goes thrifting, to garage sales, shopping and more.

"This is something I love to do," she said. "The first year it was just myself and Carla Aronhalt decorating, and we did 46 trees in four days. Anything on or sitting with that tree goes with it."

Gore knew there were women who would help, and they have never wavered from her call.

"We work well together, and this is our third year," she said. "I have full confidence in all of them. I hope we don't outgrow this building because it keeps getting bigger and bigger."

Every tree is numbered, and there are auction bid sheets in the back. All the holiday floral arrangements to be auctioned are made by Tammy Gore as well.

Gore said ideas just seem to click in her head when she sees multiple items in a store that just seem to go together. The teapots on the "Alice and Wonderland" tree are all antiques she found in an antique shop.

"We always have a snowman tree because everyone likes snowmen," she said. "I try to keep it fresh and do new fun things. There is something for everybody, and I love to watch little kids come in and say things like, 'Oh Mom, look!' It's fun to watch the reactions. It makes you feel good, and it's for a wonderful cause."

The All the Places You Will Go Tree was decorated with post cards and photographs from places she has traveled all over the United States with her husband. They took a year and just traveled, and that's where she got the idea for that tree.

Ten-year-old granddaughter Adley Duhamell caught her grandma’s fever. Her tree features books about animals including animals in the zoo and stuffed animals. Unique to the area this year is a River View Black Bears tree.

"It's fun to see the reactions to the trees," Gore said. "I'm glad everyone is enjoying it and kicking off the holiday season."

The trees are securely wrapped with Saran Wrap and placed in vehicles after purchase. One-hundred percent of the money goes to the Firefighters Toy Chest in Coshocton.