Milford dad Mark Desrochers and son Brad pause to admire a holiday tree titled, “Let’s Recreate” that was sponsored and decorated by staffers of the Milford Recreation Department whose holiday tree was laden with this soccer ball, swim goggles, sports puzzles and other healthy goods. Photo by LORETTA JACKSON

MILFORD – The 2024 Festival of Trees Holiday Tree Tour & Raffles fundraiser for SHARE Outreach Inc., a Milford nonprofit since 1979, graced the Gatherings event venue at the historic Colonel Shepard House mansion on Mont Vernon Street during the weekend of Nov. 29-30 and Dec. 1.

“This year we were celebrating our 45th anniversary,” said Christine Janson of Amherst, executive director of SHARE Outreach Inc. “Our mission is to support area families in need with basic necessities — food, clothing, emergency financial assistance.”

Noted in event literature was the proclamation that SHARE in 2023 assisted 800 area families — 2,000 people — from Amherst, Brookline, Mont Vernon, Wilton and elsewhere.

Exhibited at the fifth annual FOT, a weekend event that drew an estimated 1,500 attendees, were 47 decorated artificial trees sponsored and adorned by the artistic from local organizations, businesses, town departments, individuals and families. Raffle baskets filled with gift cards and themed inclusions such as beauty products or pet supplies or sports equipment lured raffle ticket buyers.

One of the stellar entries among the holiday tree contenders was an “Island Christmas” holiday tree aglow with illuminated palm fronds drooping over a beach scene of fold-up picnic chairs, the makings for chocolate S’mores and a bottle of tequila nestled in a basket alongside other heady libations. Amigos Mexican Cantina on South Street in Milford was the sponsor.

Milford’s Brenda Nadeau, a Realtor celebrating 40 years with FOT sponsor Kokko Realty, mans the table where guests to the recent Festival of Trees fundraiser for SHARE Outreach Inc., purchased raffle tickets that would win in scratch-off lottery tickets $1,000 secured to the branches of the holiday tree alongside her station. Photo by LORETTA JACKSON

“This is our best festival, so far, in the number of trees, the beauty of the trees and the way people have been so generous in their contributions,” said Chris Fournier, a Milford resident and FOT volunteer.

Elsewhere, the Amherst Police Department’s holiday tree drew attention. It replicated a police officer topped with a black hat, sunglasses and a bright yellow tie warning, “Police Line – Do Not Cross.” The department’s young K9 dog, “Berry” was referenced through embroidered police patches bearing the name and secured to a black belt at the tree’s expansive waistline.

An attractive, full-color, 20-page program booklet credited dozens of festival sponsors including Dokmo Family Properties, Kokko Realty, Two Sisters and Hitchiner, along with Decco, Milford Garden Club, Trombly Gardens, The Copy Shop of Amherst and many others.

Cynthia Dokmo, leader of the all-volunteer FOT Committee, capped the weekend with a heartfelt admission: “I’m always gratified about how people are so generous to SHARE, as it’s such an important organization in helping people.”

More information on SHARE Outreach, Inc., 1 Columbus Ave., Milford, can be found online: sharenh.org.

Chris Fournier of Milford, a Festival of Trees volunteer, displays a basket of spirits that enriched an “Island Christmas” holiday tree entry sponsored by Amigos Mexican Cantina on South Street in Milford that was displayed among 47 holiday trees entered in the fifth annual Festival of Trees Holiday Tree Tour & Raffles to benefit SHARE Outreach Inc., a volunteer-based Milford nonprofit that since 1979 has assisted thousands in the area who seek food, clothing or emergency financial assistance. Photo by LORETTA JACKSON

Kathy Holland, a longtime Milford resident currently abiding in Sandown, remarks on the twin trees intended for sharing that were deemed “The Giving Tree” and sponsored by Ameriprise Financial whose decorations included gift cards to Union Coffee, Cafe on The Oval, Brickhouse Restaurant & Brewery and more. Photo by LORETTA JACKSON

Maggie Schellenberg of Milford, a volunteer at SHARE, was among dozens of well wishers from the FOT Committee and SHARE Outreach Inc., who throughout the weekend at the Gatherings event venue welcomed around 1,500 of supporters to the fifth annual Festival of Trees fundraiser for SHARE in Milford. Photo by LORETTA JACKSON

The uppermost portion of the Amherst Police Department’s holiday tree entry amplifies the sponsored “Blue Lights Special,” a holiday tree entry replete with replicas of police badges, embroidered police patches, plush toy dogs representing the department’s young K9, “Berry,” and other authentic law enforcement regalia. Photo by LORETTA JACKSON