Over the Thanksgiving weekend, dedicated volunteers came to the Olympia Red Lion Hotel to transform the ballroom into a gorgeous forest, decorated for Christmas. This year marks the 25th year that the Providence St. Peter Foundation has created its Christmas Forest – a popular holiday tradition that both marks the beginning of the Christmas season and raises hundreds of thousands of dollars that, in turn, help assure compassionate and excellent care in the community.
Tery Bodette and Connie Scheller, Christmas Forest Design Co-Chairs, were among the volunteers who came out to decorate the ballroom, lobby, foyer, and prepare the gift shop. In her 24th year as a volunteer, Bodette says, “It’s a great way to give back to the community. It’s become part of our tradition – it’s magical and kicks off the Christmas season.”
Proceeds benefit the Providence mission to provide vital healthcare to our community. Kelle Schalin, Special Events Manager at Providence St. Peter Foundation, says “It’s often times life-saving equipment or charity care, which helps those less fortunate than ourselves.”
Bodette says, “We are all indebted to St. Pete’s in one way or another.” She continues, “My husband was born at St. Pete’s, and all of my children were born there too. In fact, my first daughter was delivered by the same doctor that delivered her father!”
In addition to several events that take place during the five-day extravaganza, the Foundation holds a gala and auction where attendees bid on the fantastically designed trees and wreaths that fill the Red Lion Inn’s Forest ballroom. The gala also includes a “Fund-A-Need” where all proceeds benefit an immediate need or special program.
This year’s Fund-A-Need benefits the Providence St. Peter Sexual Assault Clinic and Child Maltreatment Center. “We’re proud of this program, it’s one example of the heart our mission,” says Schalin. “Who is more vulnerable than these children whose trust has been violated?”
Twenty-five years of fundraising has been crucial in helping Providence St. Peter Hospital become the amazing facility it is today. “With support from the community, we just opened a new critical-care unit. It’s truly first class and provides the highest level of care in our region,” says Schalin. Many of the ministries have won awards for the care they provide. Other ministries that benefit from overall proceeds are the ministries supported by the Foundation: Providence St. Peter Hospital, Providence Medical Group clinics, Providence St. Francis House, Providence Mother Joseph Care Center, and Sound Home Care & Hospice.
Visitors each year usually reach 5,000 or more with guests coming for daily events, including Ladies Night Out, Senior Day, Family Day, and Kids’ Day, which partners with Hands On Children’s Museum for fun crafts throughout the day.
Another popular stop at the Christmas Forest is the gift shop, on the main level of the Red Lion Inn. Sponsored by Anchor Bank, the gift shop is filled each year with fun items carefully curated by a group of longtime Christmas Forest volunteers.
“It’s like a little boutique,” Schalin says. “They have a lot of Christmas items, of course, but they also have toys and gifts. They have limited and unique items and when they’re gone, they’re gone.”
Planning the event is a yearlong process. During the Christmas Forest run, Schalin is so busy that she lives on site in a room donated by the Red Lion Inn.
But all the hard work is worth it for Schalin and the many volunteers who help make the event such a success.
“We have amazing access to health care in our community, and many things have been made possible thanks to Christmas Forest,” Schalin says. “Providence has a mission to care for the poor and vulnerable, so everyone in the community benefits from this top-notch healthcare system.”
“And then,” she adds with a laugh, “it’s just a lot of fun, too.”
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