Festival Of Trees Aims To Raise Funds For Caregiver Group That Helps Brick Senior Citizens

We know you haven’t put the Halloween decorations away yet, and it seems far too soon to think about Christmas and Hannukah. But a fundraiser for an organization devoted to helping senior citizens in Ocean County is a good reason to do just that.

Caregiver Volunteers of Central Jersey is hosting a Festival of Trees the weekend before Thanksgiving -- from Friday, Nov. 21 through Sunday, Nov. 23 -- at the Ocean County Vocational-Technical School on Old Freehold Road in Toms River. The festival is a fundraiser for the organization, which provides volunteers to assist the elderly and those who are frail in Ocean County.

Sponsored by ECONET Enterprises, Inc., the three-day fundraiser will include decorated tree and menorah giveways, snack and food vendors, local artisan tables, gift items, and local business and prize giveaways. Tickets are $5 and children younger than 12 years old are free. Tickets can be purchased at the door.

The Toms River High School South chorus is scheduled to perform at the event on Saturday, Nov. 22, and will be bringing a donated tree to the event.

Caregiver Volunteers of Central Jersey welcomes donations of decorated trees and menorahs for the event, as well as artists seeking to sell holiday crafts. For information on that, visit their website or their Facebook page, or call 732-505-2273.

“Ocean County ranks No. 1 in the state with the highest percentage of population in the 60-plus age category,” said Lynette Whiteman, executive director of CVCJ. “We are able to offer solutions for the homebound elderly; allowing them to remain independent in their own homes for as long as possible. All of our services are provided at no fee.”

Currently, the organization has more than 1,200 volunteers helping more than 2,500 senior citizens each month in Ocean County, the group says. Those volunteers provide assistance ranging from transportation to medical appointments, grocery shopping, and relief for Alzheimer disease caregivers, to reassuring telephone calls and simply friendly and pet visits.

“We are looking forward to kicking off the holiday season with this first-time event. It’s a fun way to get a jump on holiday decorating, raise money for a good cause, and join in the holiday giving spirit,” Whiteman said.

The ECONET 1st Annual Festival of Trees event hours are: Friday, Nov. 21, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 22, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 23, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.