For the second year in a row the Ponoka Festival of Trees has been cancelled.
While an ‘Un-Festival of Trees’ fundraiser was held in the fall of 2020, which succeeded in raising over $90,000 for the purchase of 10 hospital beds and mattresses, the Ponoka and District Health Foundation (PDHF) has decided instead to set up a Christmas tree display between the Ponoka Jubilee Library and the Town of Ponoka office in the lobby of the Ponoka Civic Building.
Rather than the PDHF actively fundraising this Christmas season, the library will instead take the lead, collecting donations for the Ponoka Food Bank.
“We’re hoping to get some donations from residents, county and town,” said Dorothy Ungstad, PDHF chair.
“I don’t really know how we will work it, but I hope we have donations there.”
The trees were put up by a group of volunteers on Nov. 28 and will be available for viewing through the holiday season.
Founded in 2010, the PDHF’s role in the community is to support health care by coordinating and managing donated funds, using them to support projects like the beds or the recently completed renovation of the tub room at the Ponoka Hospital and Care Centre.
With the Festival of Trees being a major source of fundraising for the PDHF, it will not be shelved for too long.
Plans are already underway, if health restrictions at the time allow, to bring the event back for the 2022 festive season.
Meanwhile, PDHF does accept donations year round for their various projects.
Cheques can be mailed to PO Box 4274, Ponoka, AB, T4J 1R6.
Donations can also be made online at www.canadahelps.org.
All funds raised in the region stay in the region.
