News : First Holiday Tree Walk begins at VGH; trees on display now

This year's Tree of Lights campaign at Virginia Gay Hospital will feature a new display that involves many VGH employees, area businesses and others.

The Holiday Tree Walk, sponsored by Edward Jones, is now set up in the VGH lobby. The walk includes 20 trees -- and a large wreath created and donated by Cindy Elwick and her staff at Nature's Corner. Anyone is welcome to come look at the displays. The trees will all be sold via silent auction, with the proceeds going toward the annual Tree of Lights campaign. All trees are completely decorated, lighted and ready to plug in. They are available in different sizes and themes to take to your home just in time for the holidays. The Holiday Tree Walk was the idea of Jenny Northrup. Jenny, a member of the Cardiopulmonary Services Department, mentioned the idea to some of the others there. They quickly agreed. Soon the idea spread to other departments, including Respiratory Care, Nuclear Medicine and Human Resources. The silent auction will end at 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 22. The winning bidders will be able to take their trees home before Thanksgiving. The participants spent part of Thursday setting up their trees. The trees' creators found a variety of inspiration for their designs. The Vinton-Shellsburg cooks have created a tree with a school theme. The white branches are covered with black and gold ornaments, most of which are homemade. Instead of an angel or a star, the treetop is covered by a VS stocking cap. It will not surprise the friends of Angie Tharp that the Tharp Design tree is called "Prety in Pink." But Angie said that she did not set out to create a tree that uses the same color as the Breast Cancer Awareness organization used in October. She said she was merely shopping for decorations for the tree and picked out things she thought were pretty. Most of them have pink with them. Jenny Northrup, whose idea started the campaign, said she first found a pretty lavender tree skirt. From that she found it easy to make a "Princess" tree with decorations in a variety of shades of purple. Ben Gates of the Nuclear Medicine Dept. also used his favorite colors, black and gold. His tree honors the Iowa Hawkeyes. Mark and Marcey Jensen, another VGH family, created a tree for golf lovers. The tree contains just about everything a golf lover needs, including a small golf bag. VGH employee Kim Swore's tree is called "Up a creek without a paddle" and features items for fishermen. Kim Frank of the VGH Human Resources Dept. and Respiratory Care Dept. created two trees. One features a variety of careers and includes ornaments for "My Favorite" doctor, nurse, firefighter and other professions. The other has a "Crazy Days of Christmas." Monkeytown and Kurt's Enterprises donated trees with a more traditional holiday theme. The wreath from Nature's Corner is already a favorite among hospital employees. Artist Hannah Mayhew, a Vinton native, designed every ornament on the tree sponsored by Farmers Savings Bank & Trust-Vinton. FSB employee Cindy Osborn quilted the tree skirt. Bill and Jane White of Nelson's Furniture donated a traditional style tree, as did LaGrange Pharmacy. VGH employe Karleen Langham used her favorite colors, black and orange, for her tree that features a Harley Davidson theme. The tree also includes a "Guardian Bell" which many cyclists have. Chris Brown, another VGH employee, contributed a tree containing gift certificates and lottery tickets. Other trees by VGH employees include a traditional one from Linda Ebert. Movies and More donated a small tree that contains coupons and items for tanning. AFLAC representative Randy Suchomel donated a tree with the theme "We've got you under our wing." Scissors, not a star or angel, top the tree from Clipper's Corner. The hospital is not accepting any more trees for this year's event. Hospital leaders anticipate that the event will grow in futue years. Businesses, organizations and individuals who would like to donate a tree next year tree can call Kim Frank at VGH, 472-6200