The Twelve Days of Christmas with Rangeley – The Original Irregular

Pictured here are several trees from a previous years Community Night of Giving. (Leeanna Wilbur photo)

RANGELEY The Rangeley Rotary Club will be hosting its annual Community Night of Giving in a new way, bringing the Rangeley area community together in a safe and engaging way.

Since 2009, the Rotary Club has held a holiday fundraiser. First called the Festival of Trees, then dubbed the Community Night of Giving, this event raises funds for community members who may need a helping hand. This includes families who need help with school clothes or Christmas presents for their children, seniors who need heating assistance, cancer patients who could use some help with food and lodging when theyre receiving treatment, and others who need a hand.

This year the challenge was creating a safe, fun way to celebrate the holidays in the face of COVID-19.

Wednesday, Nov. 25, the Miracle Tree will be placed at the Gazebo at Haley Pond. This tree will represent hope for the community with the end of 2020 and the new light of 2021, according to Leeanna Wilbur.

Every day for 12 days, beginning Saturday, Nov. 28, a new tree will be placed outdoors in Rangeley. The trees are decorated by local businesses and represent the Twelve Days of Christmas. A clue will be posted on Facebook and shared with students at the Rangeley Lakes Regional School, encouraging families to get out walking or driving to search for the trees. The last tree will be revealed on Wednesday, Dec. 9.

Saturday, Dec. 12, a drawing will be held, raffling off the Twelve Days of Christmas trees. Tickets are $25 each, and 100% of the funds raised will be put into the Rotarys community fund. In addition, for $500, a class at RLRS may be sponsored; each child in the class will get an entry in the drawing for a tree of their choice.

In previous years, the trees were inside and businesses could add items to the trees such as gift cards, goodie baskets or products. However, to keep things COVID safe, the trees will all be outdoors. Businesses can attach laminated notes to their trees with any items that may be included, and the winner of each tree will take the tree, the stand and any items attached to the tree.

Classes may be sponsored multiple times, and folks can collaborate to sponsor a class.

Leeanna Wilbur reported Thursday, Nov. 18, that they had raised $7,400 and seven classes had been sponsored, before the event had even started.

Read the rest here:
The Twelve Days of Christmas with Rangeley - The Original Irregular