Trimmed and ready

MOSES LAKE — Folks who are pining for a Christmas tree will find them all spruced up with lights and decorations at the annual Festival of Trees on Dec. 7. 

The event is Habitat for Humanity of Greater Moses Lake’s biggest fundraiser of the year, said Executive Director Rebecca Mabius. It will be held in the Advanced Technologies Education Center at Big Bend Community College. 

“This year we have 13 trees that will be available for purchase, and they’re donated and decorated by individuals and businesses here in the community,” Mabius said. 

The tinseled tannenbaums, which are 7½ to 9 feet tall, are themed and often come with gifts underneath them. They’ll be sold off at a live auction conducted by Chuck Yarbro Auctioneers. There are other auction items as well: six service or experience packages for the live auction and 27 donated silent auction items. 

The evening will start at 5 p.m. with a social hour – actually an hour and a half – when people can wander around and check out the trees and other auction items, Mabius said. Appetizers and dinner will be provided by Enzo’s, Eleventh Hour will provide mocktails, and Shenanigenz will bring the bar. 

“We do a dessert dash as well,” Mabius said. “We have 32 desserts that are donated by local businesses or created by individuals in the community. I feel really fortunate; we only have to purchase two this year, and we're purchasing them from somebody who's actually donating two (others).” 

This year, Habitat is adding another tier of cheer: five-foot trees decorated by local nonprofit organizations. Those trees will also be auctioned off, and 30% of the proceeds will go back to the nonprofit, Mabius said. 

“We live in this community, and we all work together, especially in the nonprofit realm, because that's what you have to do if you want to make it,” she said. 

This year marks Habitat for Humanity’s 30th year in Moses Lake. Habitat for Humanity is a Christian-based, non-sectarian organization that builds free homes for families, according to its website. The family then pays an affordable mortgage back to Habitat, which uses the money to pay for its next home. The homes are built by local volunteers, and the family itself puts in hundreds of hours of work in the construction. The goal is to provide as many people as possible with a decent, affordable home they can call their own. 

Since 1994, Habitat for Humanity of Moses Lake has built 15 homes for 15 families, Mabius said. The most recent is in the final stages of construction in the Larson Community. HFHGML doesn’t receive any state or federal funding, Mabius said. 

“That's why it's so essential for us to try to raise as much as we can at our fundraiser, because this is local funds supporting local individuals,” she said. 

The next home HFHGML has planned will be built in 2026, Mabius said. For next year, the organization is going to concentrate on its Brush with Kindness program, which provides repairs to existing homes for people in need. 

“We work with seniors, veterans and low- to moderate-income families to live safely within their home,” Mabius said. “We'll do anywhere from small projects such as installing handrails … to as large as helping with installing showers or other other amenities within the home to ensure that they stay safe.” 

The color scheme for the Festival of Trees this year is royal blue with silver and gold, Mabius said.  

“We want people to feel like they're in a winter wonderland and be able to spend and have a great time,” she said. “Engage with us, engage with their friends, drink some wonderful wine and beer, create memories and have as much fun as you can.” 

Festival of Trees Gala
Saturday, Dec. 7
5-9:30 p.m.
ATEC Building, BBCC

The print edition of this story gave an incorrect date for the Festival of Trees, and also an incorrect title for Rebecca Mabius. The event is Dev. 5, and Mabius' title is executive director. The errors have been corrected above.

    Kayla Hoffer (seated) and Anna Lucero (standing) decorate a tree for a previous Habitat for Humanity of Greater Moses Lake Festival of Trees.
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    A snowman waves from one of the trees at a previous Festival of Trees.