MANISTIQUE, Mich. (WZMQ) – The Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital is full of holiday spirit for the fifth annual Festival of Trees.
“Every year, we kind of challenge the tree designers to come up with a unique theme,” said Marketing Director Sara Giles. “The public can vote on the Best Children’s Tree, the Most Creative Set, as well as the People’s Choice Award. We even have some trees this year that aren’t your traditional looking tree, so we’re really excited about the variety we see.”
More than 100 businesses have contributed to this year’s festival by decorating and sponsoring trees and wreaths or by donating items for prize packages, which are put up for auction or a raffle.
“You can bid online or you can purchase raffle tickets,” Giles explained. “You get five for $10, and you actually put them in the trees, prizes, or wreaths that you want to win.”
The proceeds will fund the hospital’s new imaging equipment, which includes a portable X-ray machine, an X-ray unit, and fluoroscopy equipment. According to CEO Andy Bertapelle, the technology is the first of its kind in the Upper Peninsula.
“One of the big focuses we have at Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital really involves keeping care local,” said Bertapelle. “What can we bring here to keep folks from having to travel for their healthcare? One of the ways that we can do that is through investing in technology. The stuff that we had was fairly old, so it was time for an upgrade.”
Bertapelle says the public’s support keeps Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital on the cutting edge of medical technology.
“In healthcare, margins are razor thin,” he said. “We take everything that we do make and we reinvest it in ourselves. But with those razor-thin margins, it takes more than that to continue to step up our game and to stay current. Having a Festival of Trees really supports that.”
He says the Festival of Trees gets the community engaged in developments at the hospital as well.
“It gives all of the businesses in the Manistique area, the Schoolcraft County area, and even beyond that a chance to donate in a way that’s meaningful to them, in a way that will help the sustainability of the hospital, and improve the quality of patient care,” said Bertapelle.
Through the tree sponsorships and prize packages available, Giles says the Festival of Trees is also a way to give back to those who have supported Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital throughout the years.
“We’re so fortunate in Schoolcraft County,” she said. “Whenever there’s a need or a cause, the whole community comes together. You’d think, ‘Why would you go to the hospital for an event?’ But the community flocks here! We feel a part of the community, and we just love that they come together for this event and we get to celebrate all of their businesses as well.”
The Festival of Trees continues through Saturday, December 9. The raffle drawings will take place at 2:00 p.m. and will be livestreamed on Facebook.
Visit the Festival of Trees website here to learn more, to place a bid, or to view raffle prizes.
