BECKLEY, WV (WOAY)- The United Way of Southern West Virginia’s Wonderland of Trees auction has gone without a hitch. The Tamarack hosted the auction of decorated Christmas trees and all the proceeds will go to United Way.
41 different trees were decorated in various ways, including Disney, White Christmas, the Nutcracker, and more. All the trees were decorated and donated by various groups and individuals here in West Virginia.
“It’s really just a great kind of cross-section of what United Way does, because community members come together to put the trees together and decorate them and provide additional value,” explained Trena Dacal, Executive director of United Way of SWV. “And then we put them up for auction and local people take them home to start their holidays with.”
One of the highest-sold trees was the first one, sold at $4,000. On top of the proceeds from the trees themselves, they also had a people’s choice award where you could vote for your favorite tree. That competition raised over $3,000 alone.
In previous years, they have raised over $50,000 from this fundraiser and all of the proceeds go back into our communities.
“We’ll use these proceeds to support our community partners that we disburse grants to in the spring,” said Dacal. “So all the proceeds here from the sale of the trees and the votes of the trees will get reinvested right back into southern West Virginia. So the money that’s raised here stays here.”
