CHR Winter Wonderland Festival of Trees can now be viewed around the island
Twelve creative holiday trees are scattered throughout the island, giving individuals the opportunity to view the Community Housing & Resources’s Festival of Trees before the event takes place later this month.
CHR Executive Director Nicole McHale said this is the second year they are holding CHR’s Winter Wonderland Festival of Trees Benefit.
“We wanted to give the community magic after Hurricane Ian,” she said. “It has been such a long time of devastation for the community. We wanted to brighten it with this magical event.”
The creativity is what makes the trees truly magical, some including homemade ornaments from the youth.
“This event means so much to Community Housing because of the fact that the number of community members that are willing to step up to give their time and money to another organization that means so much to them. The individuals who lives with us are the people that are serving our community – the engine that drives the economic resiliency,” McHale said.
Last year, nonprofits and businesses decorated the trees.
“Again this year we have businesses and community members decorating the trees. So thankful for everybody that donates their time and money to creating these magical trees for our event,” she said.
Residents have the opportunity to view the holiday trees at:
CHR’s Winter Wonderland Festival of Trees can be seen around the island at numerous locations.
Bank of the Islands, 1699 Periwinkle Way: “Making Waves” design by Zonta Club of Sanibel-Captiva
Beach Daisy Coast Clothing, 2075 Periwinkle Way No. 29: “Cultivating Kindness: A Christmas Garden” design by Keelie Bloom
Cielo, 1244 Periwinkle Way: “Chart Your Course to Sanibel Island” design by On Island with Alison Womack
Congress Jewelers, 2075 Periwinkle Way, No 35: “Waves of Generosity” design by SanCap 100+ Women Who Care
Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille, 2500 Island Inn Rd.: “Flamingle all the Way to Sanibel” design by Gabriella McNeilus and Laura Gales
Ibis Grill, 1100 Parview Dr.: “Ark Angels” design by Noah’s Ark Thrift Shop
Jerry’s Foods, 1700 Periwinkle Way: “The Heart of Christmas” design by Children’s Education Center of the Islands
SanCap Pack-N-Ship, 2422 Palm Ridge Rd.: “Harbor of Hope” design by SANCAP PINK Project
Sanctuary Golf Club, 2801 Wulfert Rd.: “Round and Round We Go” design by CĒLĒBRER Design Studio
Sanibel Public Library, 770 Dunlop Rd.: “Trailways; Where Every Heart Shines” design by Trailways Camps
Sanibel Recreation Center, 3880 Sanibel Captiva Rd.: “Let it Grow” design by Sanibel School Fund
Toys Ahoy, 2075 Periwinkle Way, No. 32: “Island of Misfit Toys” design by Toys Ahoy
“They are so spectacular. It is very exciting,” she said.
CHR’s Winter Wonderland Festival of Trees Community Day will take place Saturday, Nov. 21 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Community House, 2173 Periwinkle Way. For the daytime event, admission is free for children up to age 18; adults are asked to donate $5 to CHR.
“Community members are invited to come in. We will have BIG ARTS Chorus, story time by Terry Cole and we will have Santa there,” she said. “We will be giving gifts away to the kids, cookies, and hot chocolate. We want the community to come in and enjoy all the beautiful trees that our community has decorated.”
Refreshments and a cash bar will be available.
The festival will continue that night from 5:30 to 7 p.m. for the ticketed benefit, which will include a silent auction, allowing attendees to bid on the holiday trees and 10 wreaths, or buy them outright. Benefit tickets, $100 a person, can be purchased at https://sancapchr.org/festival-of-trees/.
“It’s a fundraiser for us to be able to provide housing for our workforce,” McHale said.
The inaugural year garnered a great day of support, as 400 people went through the event. Many children attended the Community Day.
“We had two toys for every kid, and they were the it toys to have,” McHale said.
McHale said affordable housing is a critical need of every community, with some communities considering it infrastructure.
“We house every single entity – first responders, teachers, retail, restaurant, city employees. They are the individuals that are the engine of our community. The economic resiliency to this community,” she said.
The last three years, CHR has collected data, which has shown 300 inquires for housing. McHale said they keep track of who the person is, what business they work for, and where they are living now.
“Our future is threatened by the county’s development of the communities where our workforce comes from – Lehigh Acres, North Fort Myers, and Cape Coral,” she said, as jobs are being built closer to their homes. “Our workforce is willing to drive out there (Sanibel) because our businesses pay a higher rate – but when they can find a job closer to home and don’t have the same economic impact – cost of gas, groceries, upkeep on vehicle – will people still be willing to work and drive this far to work here?”
McHale said they have 67 units of rentals and nine limited equity ownership units.
“We are almost finished with The Harkey House at Riverview, which is 15 more units,” she said. “All the apartments are almost 600 square feet – huge, and modern and new.”
Those units are already accounted for.
A ribbon cutting is being held at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 12 on the site at 1517 Periwinkle Way.
To reach MEGHAN BRADBURY , please email mbradbury@breezenewspapers.com