Tree festival and auction kick off holiday season

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Shaun Emery
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  The sixth Annual Travis Fisher House Holiday Tree Festival and Auction, sponsored by members of the 60th Maintenance Operations Squadron and the 349th Maintenance Operations Flight is 4 to 7 p.m. Nov. 29 in the atrium of Bldg. 31.

The Travis Fisher House provides quarters for family members of patients receiving care at David Grant USAF Medical Center. The house can accommodate up to seven families or 16 individuals.

The event is a silent auction and all proceeds benefit the Travis Fisher House. More than 20 Christmas trees and several gift baskets will be auctioned off at the event. Members of the Travis community purchase the trees and gift baskets and will donate them to the event.

Each tree will be decorated with its own theme. Past themes include a greeting card tree, a silver and gold tree, a fire and ice tree, a snowman tree and many more.
"We've seen a wide variety of themes," said Ms. Lori McCullough, 60th MOS. When you see all the trees lit up it's beautiful. It's a great beginning to getting your heart set for the holiday season."

Many volunteers have spent countless hours coordinating the event. Signs will be placed at both the Main Gate and the North Gate at Travis with arrows to direct people to the event. The signs, which depict a tree not unlike the one Charlie Brown made famous, are a symbol of how far the event has come.

"When we started out it was the 60th MOS commander and his wife and about five staff," said Ms. McCullough. "Over the years the event has grown so much with the help of all our great volunteers."

During the event, children will have the opportunity to have their picture taken with Santa. There will be two bingo games with prizes awarded to the winners and the Golden West Band will provide musical entertainment.

"The event is a great place for people to meet with other military families," said Master Sgt. James Barber, 349th MOF training manager. "I'm looking forward to meeting everyone and seeing Team Travis pull together to support our families and the Fisher House."

As the holiday season moves closer, the time for giving becomes more important, said Ms. Tammy Jankowski, 60th Maintenance Group manpower analyst. "The festival is a great way to kick off the holiday season, while also giving Team Travis and opportunity to open their hearts directly to help military families in need."

The donation of non-perishable food items is being accepted for entrance to the event. The food that is collected will be donated to the Solano Food Bank.