Magical Christmas Forest Gives Back to Santa Maria Students & Community This Holiday Season
Jarrod Zinn
SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) – Students are on a gingerbread manhunt in a magical Christmas tree forest at Kia of Santa Maria.
A school field trip took place at Altrusa’s annual holiday fundraiser at the dealership on south Bradley Rd.
It’s becoming a yearly tradition for families in the Santa Maria Valley, providing field trip exhibitions of community created Christmas trees.
“Last year we raised about $54,000 and all of that money went back into the community,” says Kellie Ouellette a Libbon Elementary School teacher. “We sponsored 40 or 45 teacher grants.”
Altrusa International Golden Valley sponsors this event, raising funds for education and literacy programs.
“I am a fifth grade teacher at Libbon Elementary School, but I am also the chair for Magical Christmas Trees for this event, and the club secretary at Altrusa Golden Valley, who are our sponsors,” says Ouellette. “I do it all!”
Local organizations or individuals sponsor and decorate these trees complete with gifts.
The raffle winner takes home their favorite tree and gifts.
“This is the gingerbread manhunt,” says Ouellette. “We had nine gingerbread men who have escaped from the baker, and they are hiding among the trees and the gifts. And so the kids are looking for the Gingerbread Man.”
Anyone can donate to enter the raffle. You have until December 13th and tickets are only $1 each. If you donate $5, you get a sixth raffle ticket for free.
“We take cash card, check Apple Pay,” says Ouellette.
The school field trips send each student home with a new book.
“We’ve been holding these Altrusa events for about three years now,” says Luke Rodges, finance manager for Kia Of Santa Maria. “It’s been really cool to get to have all these businesses that come in and contribute.”
The Magical Christmas Tree Forest is on display and open to the public at Kia of Santa Maria.
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