Decking the Halls for a Good Cause

The Third Annual Festival of Trees to benefit Safenet Services scheduled.

The holiday season is rapidly approaching, and many people will soon be spending hours decking the halls, stringing lights, decorating Christmas trees and shopping.  While it is a season of family traditions, many of those traditions frequently conflict with our fast-paced schedules.  Time is a luxury that most people could use more of.  But Safenet Services has the solution to your holiday dilemmas.  The Third Annual Festival of Trees will have fully decorated trees for purchase, centerpieces, elegant wreaths, as well as many other festive decorations.

 An event to raise funds for the Safenet Domestic Abuse Building Campaign, the Festival of Trees is a great way for attendees to get their holiday decorating and gift-giving out of the way while supporting a worthy cause.  “Decorators and artists from around the county are donating their time in creating beautiful works of art that will be sold at the Festival of Trees silent and live auctions,” says Susan Wolfenbarger, volunteer and event coordinator at Safenet.

“Buyers can save time,” Wolfenbarger adds.  “Not only are the trees fully decorated, but all trees are delivered to their new homes the next day.  

The Will Rogers Memorial is excited to host this year’s event.  Beginning at 6 p.m. on Friday, November 30, the location, for one night, will become an elegant Christmas wonderland.  Decorated Christmas trees, elegant wreaths and beautiful accents will line the halls amongst the artifacts of Oklahoma’s favorite Son.  Angelic harp music will set the mood as patrons stroll through the Will Rogers Memorial with their glasses of wine, chocolate-dipped strawberries and hors d’ oeuvres.  “The chocolate fountain is back this year to beckon the taste buds of everyone,” Wolfenbarger adds.

Safenet is a place where women and children can escape domestic abuse and find help.  The organization’s great volunteer base allows programs like the Victim Advocacy Program, the Supervised Visitation and Exchange Center, Sexual Assault Advocacy, and the Second Impressions Resale Boutique and Outlet to continue.  Safenet offers parenting classes, counseling, shelter, education, and escape assistance. Through the Festival of Trees, the staff and volunteers at Safenet attempt each year to make known the domestic abuse epidemic in Rogers County.

Benefactors and volunteers are still needed by Safenet to raise funds for the organization’s new 25-bed shelter.  Safenet, a United Way agency that is certified by the attorney general, is applying for grants that need matching funds.  The funding program is called “Have a Heart… for Those That Have Broken Ones.”

In 2006, 716 protective orders were filed with Safenet’s help, and 6,012 crisis line calls were answered. Safenet hopes to continue its success in helping the community.

Why not begin a new tradition and attend Safenet’s Festival of Trees?  Tickets are $25 each and are available by calling Safenet at (918) 341-1424.  Take the opportunity to enjoy an evening of festive, family fun at the up-and-coming social event of the season.

For more inform­­ation, contact

Safenet Services

(918) 341-1424
(918) 341-9400 Crisis Line