Hope and Warmth
Fred McCormick
Columnist
The Valley Echo
December 3, 2020
Fred McCormick Photo by Kendra Diaz
In the biblical story of the birth of Jesus Christ, an occasion that has been celebrated for well over 1,000 years, there are many characters, locations and events that continue to play key roles in the Christmas holiday. The little town of Bethlehem, the baby in the manger and the wise men who traveled hundreds of miles to see him are just some of the familiar themes that prevail today.
Then there’s the star.
It was the Star of Bethlehem that guided the magi to Christ, according to the Bible, and that symbol became synonymous with hope. If there is anything everyone needs in 2020, it’s hope.
The 10th annual Deck the Trees fundraiser, which runs Dec. 3 - Jan. 4, features trees decorated by Swannanoa Valley businesses and organizations. All proceeds support the Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministry Fuel Fund, which provides heating assistance for local residents in the winter. Entries can be viewed at the Monte Vista Hotel, the chamber of commerce and participating businesses. Photo by Fred McCormick
Each year Deck the Trees fills the Monte Vista Hotel in Black Mountain with dozens of Christmas trees designed by local organizations and businesses. The display in the beautiful historic hotel is always creative and captures the spirit of this community during the holiday season, but the most amazing thing about it is what it does for so many people in the Swannanoa Valley who need help.
The Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministry does a lot of things for this community. Based in Black Mountain, the nonprofit organization has fed, clothed and sheltered local residents for decades. One of its most vital assistance programs is its fuel fund, which supports our neighbors with heating every winter.
This year, like basically everything else in our world, Deck the Trees will be a lot different than it has in the past, but its theme is one of hope. This fundraiser, which is organized every year by a dedicated committee, has raised approximately $115,000 for heating assistance in only nine years. As it celebrates its 10th anniversary, Deck the Trees will go outside of the walls of the Monte Vista for the first time.
Normally all of the entries are displayed throughout the hotel on State Street, but in 2020 you can find them all over town. There are still 15 trees in the Monte Vista this year, including past favorites like the Black Mountain Fire Department, Girl Scout Troop 02498, the Swannanoa Valley Fine Arts League and Red House Gallery, the Kiwanis Club and more. But, with more than 30 entries, you will also see elaborately decorated Christmas trees in the Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center, and in local shops like Europa, Kilwin’s, Mountain Me, the Old Depot and other places.
The 2020 Deck the Trees entry for Dreams Salon encourages hope and peace in the holiday season. Photo by Fred McCormick
If you view the trees — and I’d recommend it if you are in, or searching for, the holiday spirit — you’ll notice the prevalence of stars. That’s because the theme of Deck the Trees this year is “And A Star Appeared.”
That theme is an important one in 2020.
This year has been hard on a lot of us. Personally, I’ve found that when I want to feel sorry for myself about everything I’ve missed out on, it’s followed by an immediate sense of guilt because I know so many people have had it so much worse. There has been illness, death, separation from family and friends, uncertainty about the future and countless economic hardships.
People are getting hit hard right now, and I hear people throw around “cold, dark winter” metaphorically, but that is literally what we’re coming into in the Swannanoa Valley.
But, thanks to Deck the Trees, the Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministry, the Monte Vista and numerous community members, there is real hope for people who need to stay warm these next few months.
I have covered Deck the Trees since 2014 and this year committee chair Libba Fairleigh asked me if I could help out by photographing the entries for the Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministry website, which allows people who can’t physically view the trees to see them and vote for their favorites with a donation. I was honored, because I’ve seen first-hand how vital this fundraiser is to our community.
Yesterday, Libba was kind enough to guide me to each of this year’s entries. We started at the chamber, walked around downtown Black Mountain and went as far west as the Swannanoa Valley Animal Hospital. At one point I commented, “this one is so cool,” and Libba reminded me that I had said the same thing for every tree I had photographed. I told her that’s because this could be the best group I’ve ever seen.
To be honest, I wasn’t sure that I would get into the holiday spirit this year, but seeing all the thought, care and work that went into these trees reminded me of two things: hope and warmth. There are a lot of things that make this community so special, but what has always stood out to me is how so many people in it are willing to help their neighbors. That has always given me hope, and the people who are involved with Deck the Trees are one of many reasons I still have it.
I’d like to invite you to view all of the trees on the Deck the Trees page of the Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministry website. You can donate $1 per vote for your favorite entry and vote as many times as you’d like. If you can’t donate, tell everyone you know about it. And, anybody who knows someone who needs help staying warm this winter, tell them about the ministry’s fuel fund.
If you’d like to view the trees in person, the link to the ministry contains a list of locations. Entries will be displayed from Dec. 3 - Jan. 4. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.
A photo gallery featuring each entry in the 10th annual Deck the Trees can be found found below.
