Volunteers Make Annual Tree Auction a Success

By Misty Cryer

If volunteers and supporters are the heartbeat of a non-profit organization that brings joy to a substantial number of people in the community, the Annual Christmas Tree Auction is its lifeblood.

The Assistance League of Carlsbad funds philanthropic projects within the community, including Operation School Bell, Assault Survivor Kits, Academic Scholarships, New Start, and Foundry Home. Its open house is scheduled for 1-4 p.m. Sunday, November 3, with the invitation-only Christmas Tree Auction occurring at 6 p.m. Friday, November 8. Both events will be at the Assistance League Chapter House at 1100 N. Canal Street.

Cindy Elkins, with Assistant League of Carlsbad, said that Brenda Day and Nita Lynch are the “money makers” who have had Christmas trees they designed and decorated as members of the organization auctioned off as the most expensive.

“We’ve been friends for 65 years,” said Brenda, referring to Nita and herself. “We raised five boys together—well, not in the same house—but she has two, and I have three. We have been friends for all those years and have never had a disagreement,” she said.

In addition to traveling together over their long-term friendship, this duo has volunteered with the Assistance League for over 20 years, commonly hand-crafting ornaments for the Christmas trees, the ladies said. “Our favorite thing to make is snowmen or Santa Clauses, but we have had different kinds of trees,” said Nita.

“Sometimes, we see something and take it as a theme and go from there,” said Brenda. “She’s really good at cutting wood. She cuts them, and I paint them,” she said.

While these friends do not handmake the ornaments anymore, they still participate in designing and decorating a tree. “They used to do three trees for years. This is the only year that they have only done one tree,” said Cindy.

Brenda said sometimes, giving the ornaments away is the hardest part. Nita said the most rewarding is when the kids come in to be dressed for Operation School Bell—just seeing their smiles.

Cindy said some businesses buy Christmas decor for non-profit organizations at the auction. After a tree is purchased, the receiver puts up a tree with lights, and the members of the Assistance League decorate the tree with featured ornaments at the recipient’s location. Centerpieces crafted with the Christmas Tree Auction theme are also auctioned off.

In Operation School Bell, the Assistance League gets the names of students in need from the school counselors and makes appointments for them to come by and shop, Cindy said. “Usually, the first two weeks before school starts, we have what we call the School Blitz. We try to clothe all the kids we can during those two weeks because for us, it is so important for the kids to be looking like everyone else the first day of school,” she said.

“The first day of school is so important for everyone to look so nice, in their nice, new clothes. We have been told they want to come to school because now they look like everyone else. They’re not going to be targeted for not having shoes or wearing their parents’ shoes. It’s a blessing for us to do that,” Cindy said.

“When they come in for appointments with their parents, each member will take one child at a time and bring them into the rooms. They get to pick out five shirts and two pairs of pants; we give them a bag of socks and a bag of underwear that has five pairs in each one, a hygiene kit, a new jacket, and new shoes. Everything that we give them is brand new. The kids are so happy. This is their favorite time because they get to come in—we do not allow the parents to come and pick anything out; the kids pick it out themselves,” said Cindy. She added that there are dressing rooms, and the members make sure that the clothes fit and comply with school rules and regulations in the dress code.

The Christmas Tree Auction is by invitation. Cindy explained that they try to get all of the businesses in town. She said, “If we have a business that wasn’t invited and hasn’t got an invitation, please let us know, and we’ll be happy to send an invitation.”

Inquiries about Assistance League of Carlsbad fundraisers, membership, volunteer opportunities, or services can be emailed to elkins.cindy@gmail.com.