We had the pleasure of providing Christmas music and lighting for a fantastic organization during the season of giving. Altrusa International is an organization of volunteers dedicated to community service. We have one in our area that serves the five cities. It was apparent from the joy of the volunteers how much they receive themselves from their gift of giving throughout the whole year. The group of volunteers put together a festive fundraising event in the Village of Arroyo Grande during the “Elegant Christmas in the Village” on the patio at Branch Street Deli. The Christmas Spirit was abundant with the families bundled up in hats and scarves sipping hot cider and cocoa as they listened to carolers and a bagpiper and strolled down the streets of the Village of AG. Each business in the village had something special to offer, but Branch Street Deli’s was by far the most impressive. Five separate businesses decorated and adorned a Christmas tree with prizes, gifts and other fun things. There were trees adorned with candy and cookies with gingerbread and other baking accessories to ones with gift certificates for manicures, pedicures and other beauty accessories. People came from all around to buy raffle tickets and choose which tree they wanted to win. There were passersby’s that were intrigued by the lights and trees and ventured in to check out what was going on. Some people bought five tickets and some bought nearly five hundred tickets! It was amazing to watch two men that bought an abundance of tickets line them up on a picnic table and stamp them one by one then tear them and place them into the five coffee cans. Some of hopeful winners stuck around until the drawing as they sipped hot cider and nibbled on cookies that the organization provided. Finally the time came at the end of the night to announce the winners. It was exciting to see the excitement as Melanie announced the five lucky winners and as they bagged up their beautiful trees and prizes.
Altrusa International, Inc. – December 6, 2009
Posted December 9th, 2009 by admin


