By AMY ADAMS
news@readthereporter.com
A row of beautifully decorated Christmas trees lines the large wall of windows in the atrium of Westfield Washington Public Library.
The Westfield Library Foundation unveiled the trees Saturday, Nov. 2, as part of the launch of its annual Christmas Tree Raffle.
Executive Director Erin Downey, who has a background in interior design, has been decorating trees for the raffle every year since she began the foundation six years ago.
“One of the things I thought I could do that would merge my worlds was a Christmas tree raffle,” Downey said. “It’s just grown from there.”
For one, the new library building at 17400 Westfield Blvd., which opened in May 2024, allows space to display more trees than the previous building on Hoover St. The number of Christmas trees offered in the raffle has doubled from last year.
Six trees, which seems appropriate for the sixth year of the fundraising raffle, are each designed and executed by Downey and her business partner Angie Bratton who have started A & E Christmas Tree Designs. Sponsored by local businesses or organizations, the trees range from more traditional to a Taylor Swift-themed creation.
Sponsored by Grand Maple Dental Care, the white-flocked “Taylor Swift’s Christmas Era” tree boasts pink disco balls and blue sparkly cowgirl boots. Medallion Partners sponsored “A Vintage Christmas” tree with deep burgundy and gold ornaments and ribbon. Moyer Fine Jewelers sponsored the “Diamonds and Pearls” tree, which is trimmed in shimmering gold and silver. “Letters to Santa,” sponsored by the Dean Ballenger Agency, shows off its traditional red and green. The City of Westfield sponsored “The Patriotic Nutcracker” tree, which features wooden nutcrackers of police, firefighters, and members of the armed services. Finally, “The Polar Express” tree, sponsored by The Farmers Bank, is filled with trains, clocks, tickets, and a traditional popcorn and cranberry garland.
In addition to opening ticket sales for the raffle on Nov. 2, the Westfield Library Foundation, along with The Farmers Bank, hosted its first-ever raffle kickoff event. More than 100 library patrons enjoyed activities including a Polar Express-themed photo booth as well as story times with Jack Russell, OneZone Chamber president and CEO and WLF vice president, dressed as the Polar Express conductor. Jeff Loeser, of Deliberate Deceptions, performed magic, and Foodies Rock from Westfield High School provided Christmas cookies.
Raffle tickets go for $10 apiece and can be purchased at the WWPL front desk and dropped into the boxes for the various trees. Additionally, tickets for each tree are available online at WestfieldLibraryFoundation.com under Christmas Tree Raffle.
“We use the funds for special programming and other library needs,” Downey said. “If there’s a program the library wants to do that they don’t have a sponsor or the funds for, we will fund that.”
Among other programs, the raffle money helps add to the Spanish collection, fund the English Language Learners program, and continue to expand offerings in the Annie Gotwald Makerspace and STEM Lab.
The raffle ends Dec 1, and winners will be pulled at noon on Dec. 2 on Facebook Live. Trees will then be shrink-wrapped for pickup by their proud new owners.
Photos provided by Erin Downey