Duluth Essentia Health Employees Auction Off Christmas Trees to Help Local Organizations

DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth Essentia Health employees are using Christmas trees as a way to donate to local non-profits.

The holiday tradition started 4 years ago, when the case management team thought decorating trees would be a great way to bring joy during the pandemic. People can come in and bid on a tree they like, with the proceeds going to an organization.

This year, Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank has been selected. The fundraiser has been growing every year.

“People love tree time. People usually right around Thanksgiving are asking like ‘when are the trees gonna come out?’ or ‘when can we pick them up?’ We’ve had a lot of patients even that are coming through from rehab or to therapy appointments bidding on trees and asking if they can be a part of it,” said Amy Calore, Manager for the Case Management team at Essentia Health.

Essentia doubled their profits from last year with $1,780 going to Second Harvest’s Backpack Program. People also got to vote on which tree they like the best.. the winner gets a pizza party.