Hope for the Holidays tree sale and auction this week at Switchyard Park

Norm Crampton
·2 min read

So, exactly where does Santa hang out while his elves are dozing during the quiet days before Thanksgiving?

There’s evidence the Jolly Old Guy hopped an overnight sleigh to Bloomington recently and landed at Switchyard Park.

While his reindeer grazed gourmet on grass like they’d never tasted at the Pole, reports are Mr. Claus ho-hoed with a jolly group of Monroe County elves — also called volunteers — who assembled at Switchyard Park for some very special work.

Holding Shia Moss, Shatoyia Moss helps decorate the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Bloomington Alumnae Chapter's Hope for the Holidays entry titled "Book Lovers." The tree is on display at Switchyard Park through Thursday.
Holding Shia Moss, Shatoyia Moss helps decorate the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Bloomington Alumnae Chapter's Hope for the Holidays entry titled "Book Lovers." The tree is on display at Switchyard Park through Thursday.

They were busy at the Pavilion decorating 50 or so donated Christmas trees that will be displayed and offered for sale beginning Tuesday and running through Thursday afternoon. Trees can be viewed from 4 to 8 p.m.

Santa will be there in person on Wednesday from 5 to 8 p.m. Any remaining, unsold trees will be auctioned off Thursday beginning at 6:30 p.m.

If that sounds familiar, you’re right: the “2023 Tree Festival & Auction” marks the fifth year that local businesses and volunteers have come together to create “Hope for the Holidays.”

IU Credit Union is the main company sponsor, and CEO Bryan Price said his company is proud to participate. “New Hope for Families is a tremendous asset to our community,” he said.

Ella Matulis puts hooks in soccer-themed ornaments for the Cutters Soccer Club's "Getting a Kick Out of the Holidays," an entry into for Hope for the Holidays, a charity sale and auction benefitting New Hope for Families.
Ella Matulis puts hooks in soccer-themed ornaments for the Cutters Soccer Club's "Getting a Kick Out of the Holidays," an entry into for Hope for the Holidays, a charity sale and auction benefitting New Hope for Families.

All proceeds from the sale of trees go to New Hope for Families, a Bloomington nonprofit that helps local families experiencing homelessness find a place to live.

“It’s so great to see this become an annual holiday tradition for so many people in our community,” Amy Stolberg, co-chair of the festival, said in the announcement from New Hope.

“Besides all the lights and tinsel, we’ll have cookies and hot chocolate and lively holiday music,” Stolberg added in an email. “It’s family-friendly and open to everyone.”

“We’ll feature a kids’ choir on Tuesday, a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus on Wednesday, and a holiday jazz trio on Thursday.

“And if they’re interested, guests can purchase a tree for themselves or for a New Hope family that has recently moved into housing — and we offer free delivery in Bloomington!”

Stolberg added, “Families participate, too. So, we have community members, families, local groups, church groups, philanthropic organizations, and many local businesses who all decorate and donate trees for this fabulous event.”

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: New Hope for Families annual tree sale, auction in Bloomington