The 16th annual Festival of Trees event continues to grow in attendance and financial success, with last year’s net proceeds more than $200,000. To date, $1,452,645 has been raised for healthcare services for Kitsap County.

Harrison Hospital’s Cardiac Service Project will be the recipient of funds raised this year. The theme for the 2002 three-day event this year is “Candyland Jubilee.”

The Harrison Hospital Foundation is looking for hundreds of volunteers, age 14 and older to work shifts during the event. Some duties include taking tickets and greeting guests at the door, selling raffle tickets or logo items, hosting the volunteer room or entertainers area, wearing character costumes and monitoring the Christmas tree and holiday displays. Enthusiastic volunteers are also needed for the active children’s activities area as well as for Kids Day. As a volunteer you can choose the day, time and activity you want to work. There are over 800 volunteer jobs to fill.

Refreshments are provided when your shift is over and volunteer T-shirts will be given to our volunteers as long as supply lasts.

A popular display at the Festival of Trees for the past six years is the Celebrate the Children Tree. Many individuals, businesses and organizations throughout Kitsap County donate stuffed animals, new books or money to this tree. Last year, two 8-feet tall trees and one 10-feet tree were covered with more than 1,000 items.

The items were distributed to the emergency rooms at Harrison Hospital in Bremerton and Silverdale and the Urgent Care Center at Port Orchard. The SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners) program also received items. Currently the Harrison Hospital Foundation is seeking financial donations for this display or new stuffed animals between 10 and 20 inches in size. All donors will be publicly recognized.

The Festival of Trees, a major fundraising event benefiting Harrison Hospital Foundation, has three major sponsors: Encore Communities, Kitsap Bank and The Sun Newspaper.

For information about contributing to or volunteering for the Festival of Trees, contact Susan Phillips, special events coordinator at (360) 792-6762.