Community support for the fourth annual Festival of Trees was outstanding again this year, organizers said.
鈥淲e're very pleased. Our numbers were just a tad down for the Saturday afternoon tea,鈥� said Bonnie Giles, co-chair of the event, noting that about 250 people came out for that, plus about 140 for the viewing on Friday. 鈥淚'm so grateful to the community and all our volunteers, sponsors and donors.鈥�
On Saturday evening, about 150 people turned out for the festive social. While Giles said the numbers are still preliminary at this point, the Saturday event grossed $13,807. She estimated the final tally from all the weekend's events will raise close to $20,000, beating last year's total of about $18,000.
鈥淭hat would be our best year yet,鈥� she said.
The events also netted 260 pounds in non-perishable food items and $557 in cash that will be given to the Mountain View Food Bank.
