The Baby Fold – Festival of Trees

When a child is in crisis and other resources have ended, The Baby Fold is there. For 110 years, The Baby Fold has been a place of refuge and help for young children and their families. “Our services focus on improving the lives of children and families by building safe, loving, healthy environments through adoption services, foster care, residential care, special education and prevention services,” says Angela Doyle, the Special Events and Public Relations Coordinator at The Baby Fold. “We are in the ministry of transforming lives, and we never give up on a child.”

The Baby Fold embodies Christian principles to help families and children develop the hope, courage, and love they need to become whole and healthy.

 

From the East Coast orphan trains that brought abandoned children to the Midwest, to more recent challenges with autism and severe emotional and behavioral disorders, says Doyle, “The Baby Fold has been a source of transformational love for children over the decades.”

Located in Normal–the heart of Illinois–The Baby Fold plays host to the area’s premiere showcase of wintertime pomp, the Festival of Trees. This annual Festival features decorated trees in what Doyle describes as a “family-centered fantasy land.” Although traditionally held during the month of November to usher in the holiday season, the Festival of Trees certainly doesn’t lack the spirit of Christmas giving. Last year’s Festival raised over $150,000; in its 19 years, the Festival of Trees has raised nearly 2 million dollars for The Baby Fold overall.

“VolunteerLocal offered us a solution that better met the needs of our volunteers, our committee members and our staff, saving us countless hours (and from headaches wrestling with spreadsheets)!”

 

“The Festival is created around the magic of lavishly decorated, one-of-a kind trees,” says Doyle. But that’s not all–the Festival also features celebrity auction items, a gingerbread village, unique wreaths, entertainment and a host of special events and activities for children and families. “It’s decorations and light and music and warmth,” says Doyle. “All the blessings of the season, wrapped up in a 4-day enchanted time of wonder and fun.”

The Festival of Trees called for over 1000 volunteers to run the event, but with VolunteerLocal, the job was much easier done than said. Doyle adds, “the VolunteerLocal staff were always willing to answer questions and offer solutions.” We love happy volunteer coordinators!

 

Photos courtesy of The Baby Fold

kaylee@volunteerlocal.com

Kaylee Williams is the President of VolunteerLocal, a volunteer scheduling, management and communication platform for organizations of all types and sizes. Williams is passionate about community service and inclusion (diversity) in tech. She is a triathlete, volunteer coach for Girls on the Run, bass guitar player and homebrewer.