Festival outdoes past years

By Jon Meyer jmeyer@idahopress.com


NAMPA — Over the past 16 years, the Canyon County Festival of Trees has raised more than $350,000 forMeals-on-Wheels programs in Nampa and Caldwell.

This year marked the most successful effort so far, with an estimated $30,000 raised through Tuesday night’s live and silent auctions combined, and more money left to be counted.

The standout of the live auction was the “Woodland Magic” tree, donated and decorated by Mountain West Bank, then bought back for $2,000 and re-auctioned for $2,200 to MVI Veterinary Supply of Meridian.

“We’re here to raise money for Meals-on-Wheels,” Nampa’s Mountain West Branch 12 Manager Angie Hagler said at Tuesday’s Gala. “We talked about it and knew we’d have people bid against us, so we figured why not (buy it back and re-auction it). We’re all here to raise money.”

Festival of Trees officials were blown away by the money raised and the sentiment shown.

“To have a tree raise over $4,000, is just amazing. We’ve never had that before,” board of directors member Melissa Howard said.

The sentiment went even deeper for some as a tree decorated by the Pfeifer family, in honor of injured soldier and relative Chad Pfeifer, was auctioned for $1,000.

Marilyn Bauman of Caldwell — with tears welling up in her eyes — said that she knew she had to bid on the tree, titled “How Can I ThankYou,”becauseherson“came back from Iraq in one piece.”

Chad Pfeifer was injured in Iraq in April and his picture stood next to the tree for the duration of the festival.

“We have a lot of admiration for the people who have gone over there,” Marilyn’s husband, Jerry Bauman, a retired physician who met Chad through the Rotary Club, said. “We wish the best for that young man.”

The Bauman’s intend to give the tree to the VA Hospital in Boise to go on display, they said.

“(The festival) just helps so many people, so many seniors,” said Mickey Sutton, who helped decorate and donate “When I Grow Up I Want to Be A Fireman.” “I’m a nurse at St. (Alphonsus Regional Medical Center) so I see people all the time who need this type of help.”

The firefighter tree, which also saw decorators of the Nampa Fire Department and local unions chip in, auctioned for $1,200.