WESTFIELD – The meditation room in the 1889 Carriage House on the grounds of the Genesis Spiritual Life & Conference Center will be among the rooms that will feature the new fundraiser “Wreaths for the Walls” this holiday season.
“Almost 20 years ago the Sisters of Providence had a tradition called the Festival of Trees and we are re-envisioning the concept with a contemporary spin,” said Elizabeth Walz, executive director.
Suzanne Boniface of the marketing department has developed the celebration of winter wreaths theme and encourages businesses, church groups, organizations and individuals to consider donating a wreath to decorate one of the walls of the Carriage House.
“Your wreath could be a wreath related to your company, a religious or cultural wreath, a joyous New Year’s wreath, a snowy or sunny wreath, or any uniquely themed wreath,” said Boniface. “Think about a wreath from scratch or begin with an evergreen wreath and open your mind to the possibilities of bits and pieces to add.”
Money raised for this campaign will further Genesis programming and activities which raise consciousness about the environment and will help care for the 19 acres of Genesis grounds which in 2016 will be certified as the Providence Arboretum, according to Walz.
All of the donations will be displayed in the Carriage House from Nov. 13 to Dec. 19 with signage that indicates who created the wreath. During that time, visitors and the general public will be able to bid on the wreaths or win them through an auction style.
Walz has already created two wreaths, one titled “Birds of a Feather,” adorned with birds, birdhouses, eggs and feathers, as well as $25 gift card from a local shop that specializes in bird supplies, and a “Peace Wreath,” made of 80 peace cranes using Japanese origami paper called washi. The peace wreath took Walz approximately seven hours to create due to its intricate detail.
Boniface also acknowledged that the organization Westfield on Weekends has agreed to donate a wreath, as well as WSKB Westfield at Westfield State University.
“November through December is an especially busy time for us as well as for our visitors including our Dickens Dinner theater performances on Dec. 18 and 19,” said Walz, noting that the wreaths will have a lot of exposure. All bids and the auction will close at the end of the dinner on Dec. 19.
All donors of wreaths will be listed on the Genesis website, on its Facebook page – www.Facebook.com/GenesisSpiritualCenter, and promoted during the campaign.
Winners of the wreaths will be contacted on Dec. 20 and will be asked to make arrangements to pick up their wreath from Dec. 20-22.
Persons interested in donating a wreath can drop off them off weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. or at other times by appointment.
“Genesis will gladly welcome all wreaths donated by members of our community,” said Walz.
For more information, contact Boniface at (413) 562-3627 or via e-mail to [email protected].
