Holiday House of H.O.P.E. deemed a success
The three-day Holiday House of H.O.P.E. was a huge success in raising money for the organization, along with attracting more than 600 people during the entire event.
Elsie Stearns, Beacon of H.O.P.E. board chair, said there were approximately 120 people who attended the event Thursday, 150 people on Friday and 350 people on Saturday. She said there was also a great variety in those who attended the event from children to adults.
“Islanders and off-islanders were there,” Stearns said.
She said the amount of support they received for the event shows that Pine Islanders work together as a team and support their community.
“It is a sure sign that the community pulls together,” Stearns said, adding that the number of volunteers she had was also amazing.
An addition to the event this year were tabletop Christmas trees created by businesses. These trees provided individuals with the opportunity to make a donation bid on the one they liked, so they could take it home.
“The highest amount in the envelop won the tree, if not, they gave a donation,” she said about how the bidding worked. “Whatever they put in the envelope was a donation.”
Stearns said they collected $3,400 in bids for 19 tabletop trees.
“Every tree had a bid,” she said. “In my mind every tree was successful.”
Stearns said St. John’s Episcopal Church officials said they would match up to $3,000 that was donated for the tabletop trees.
“We were thrilled,” she said when the church donated the money to them.
The money will go towards the afterschool program, Students Achieving Success.
Center of Attention Day Spa received the highest total amount in bids, the Water Company came in second and Red’s Seafood Restaurant came in third.
The highest amount of bids was Red’s Seafood Restaurant, which had three gift certificates attached to the tree.
“The businesses amazed me,” she said about the creativity they put into the tree, along with the little gifts that were attached as part of the decoration.
Individuals who attended the Holiday House of H.O.P.E. were encouraged to make a $5 donation to go on a tour, which also included light hors d’oeuvres courtesy of the Tarpon Lodge.
The event was also successful for the vendors who showcased their work. Stearns said the vendors donated a certain percentage of their sales from the event to the Beacon.
Although the final amount is still being tallied, Stearns believes it will be close to $9,000.
Rob Wells, general manager of Tarpon Lodge, said they opened all the rooms, so the vendors could decorate them this year. He said they will do it again next year.
Wells said they thought the event was great.
“It is a good opportunity for the Tarpon Lodge to work with the charity and be able to showcase the historic house there,” he said.
The dinner turnout at the lodge during the three-day event was also a huge success. Wells said he believes there were a lot of islanders that had not been to the lodge in a while that stopped by, along with those who have been meaning to stop by.
“It was a great opportunity for them to come in,” he said.
Wells said one of the things that was discussed as the event was unfolding this year was to add a kid-friendly component to next year’s event. He said the Wednesday night kick-off would include some activities that are focused on kids.
“I think that will be a real popular night for the families,” Wells said.
The Holiday House of H.O.P.E. will be held Nov. 28, 29 and 30 and Dec. 1 next year.
“It was a great event,” Wells said about this year’s Holiday House of H.O.P.E. “We are looking forward to doing it again next year and hopefully many more years to come.”