Raising money to feed the hungry

EAST LONGMEADOW, Mass. (WWLP) - More than 60 families took home beautiful, fully decorated and themed Christmas trees Saturday night and they were helping the hungry at the same time.

The Festival of Giving Trees in East Longmeadow is a special holiday event to raise money for the East Longmeadow food bank, and the Pioneer Valley Christian School.

Local businesses, civic groups, and individuals donate the decorated trees which are put up for bid.

The organizer told 22News they've raised 4-thousand dollars in other years.

Sabra Ramsdell says, “I think this year we'll do a little bit better hopefully. This is a tough economy we know, money is tight for everybody. We keep going. “

The event has grown over the past few years two years ago they auctioned off 37 trees this year there were 64.