Sixteen days after unloading our delivery of 175 Fraser Firs, our council marked a successful end to our biggest fundraiser by selling our last tree just before 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9.
Our last customer took a photo of Brother Knights Brian Tumulty and John Owens, along with John’s wife Colleen, who staffed our lot to the end.
John and Colleen Owens, left, with Brian Tumulty after the sale of the last tree on Dec. 9
The trio gathered the few remaining wreaths and decorative roping onto a cart that was taken to the church’s narthex and sold that evening and the next day by Brother Knights Dick Wadden and Richard Stec, and our other volunteers who sold Christmas cards.
Christmas card sales ended a day later on Dec. 10.
Turnout by our brother Knights as volunteers was spotty at times, but many of the Knights who turn out every year stopped by to work a shift of two.
Brother Knight Mark Searle, left, with PVI student Alex Fromm, and Brother Knight Brad Allen
Brother Knight Carl Unterkofler (left) and his brother Paul Unterkofler flank Grand Knight Anthony Estrada on the Christmas tree lot during weeknight sales. The brothers also helped unload the trees the day after Thanksgiving.
Brother Knight Paul Hunter, left, with his daughter Megan, and his brother Mike Hunter. Megan is a student at Paul VI High School. They staffed the lot on a Wednesday night.
There also was a strong showing by Paul VI High School students filling in most of the holes. We often had a combination of students and Knights working on the lot together.
Knights, family, and PVI students volunteered on the busy Saturday afternoon of Dec. 2.
PVI student Lily Sheedy tying a tree to a car roof.
Both fundraisers performed above expectations financially.
Our net income of roughly $10,400 from tree sales was just shy of the $11,000 projected in our budget.
However, sales of Keep Christ in Christmas cards, Advent wreaths, and candles netted about $3,400, about $1,400 more than budgeted.
Taken together, these two fundraisers netted $800 more than budgeted.
That extra money will help us cover the higher-than-budgeted cost of several recent events, including the Thanksgiving senior citizens dinner.
Much of the income from these fundraisers allows us to support our charitable causes, including the $3,600 that we annually use to purchase bulk food items for the parish food pantry operated by our St. Vincent de Paul Society.
Brother Knights Jason Hepler and Steve Powers deserve a big thank you for administering the order, handling the delivery arrangements, setting up the tree lot, pricing the trees, and doing the takedown.
Please share with them the council’s gratitude for their behind-the-scenes work the next time you see them.