The library at Viewmont High School was filled with a festive air on Monday as 31 decorated Christmas trees – lights twinkling – went up for bid. It was the 7th Annual Vikings Give Christmas Tree Festival fundraiser. Students have been knocking doors and battling between classes on who will shave it (hair) or save it and more. 

“Student government reached out to all of the clubs,” said Senior Class Advisor Hailey Neilson. “They get a 4’ lit tree and they can decorate it how they want.”

There were themed trees like gingerbread, a memory tree and a daycare tree the kids helped decorate, she said. “The date night tree sold for the most. It had gift cards and tickets to CenterPoint Theatre, etc. The next highest was Chick-fill-A with 26 meal cards.”

Most of the trees were decorated with a theme. A date night tree sold for the highest amount. Courtesy photo.

Students provided music with a harp, violin and guitar, said Neilson. “We had a concession stand and Santa came. This is a way for the community to donate to Vikings Give in another way other than just a donation.”

In total, they raised $4,341, she said. “We are raising money for the grand families organization. Those are grandparents who have taken in minor children for various reasons. Parents could be on drugs, incarcerated or might have died.”

The last couple of years Viewmont has raised money for 270 kids, said Neilson. “Students can volunteer and pay $75 to help on six collection nights. They’re given a map and a folder with fliers to go door to door asking for donations.”

Next week the kids will be paired up with a child and go shopping for them, she said. “Then on Friday we’ll have a grand families lunch where students get to hang out with the child they bought gifts for so the kids can see the Christmas magic.”

 Any extra money will go to the school’s teen center, Neilson said. “This is the fundraiser that keeps that going all of the school year.”

Neilson said the activity that raised the most money was the Save it or Shave it game. “Students go head to head to see who’s raised the most money in a battle between classes. Three guys had to shave their heads.”

They also had a Vikings Give carnival, she said. “We try to get the whole school involved to raise money. We’d run around with cans at basketball games for donations. It’s something worth doing to see what comes out of it and the joy that it brings.” λ