LAYTON -- Members of the Gardner family, of West Point, were doing some early Christmas tree window shopping Monday.
"It is a good thing to do as a family," said Sheila Gardner, who with her husband, Darby, and their three young children, was taking in the 13th annual Evergreens festival.
The festival, at the Davis Conference Center in Layton, continues this evening with a 5 p.m. public and silent auction and a 6:30 p.m. dinner.
The tree festival serves as a fundraiser for Safe Harbor, a shelter for victims of domestic abuse.
The public was able to preview the Christmas trees from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday at the center, 1651 N. 700 West.
"They're very nice," Darby Gardner said of the collection of trees trimmed in themes of lollipops, snowmen, toys and rock 'n' roll.
"They don't look like the tree at my house," Dawn Brandvold said, one of the first to preview the trees on display in the center's main ballroom.
There are 17 decorated Christmas trees, along with other donated items, to be auctioned off tonight during a $50-a-plate dinner. In addition, there is a large number of gift baskets, and six more decorated Christmas trees to be auctioned off through a silent-bid process.
The event last year raised about $80,000 for the Kaysville shelter, which serves about 1,500 women and children who are victims of domestic abuse, officials said.
The donated Christmas trees to be auctioned off at the festival come from individuals and organizations, Safe Harbor Executive Director Kay Card said.
The items for the public and silent auction also have been donated by individuals and businesses, including vacation trips, electronics and a framed Brett Favre jersey, of the Green Bay Packer variety.
"We have a little bit for everybody. It's a good way to come and begin filling your Christmas list," Card said.
"It is really a community effort," she said.
In a year that has seen 100 nonprofit organizations fail in the state, Card said, she is grateful their organization continues to receive the support it does.
"It is Safe Harbor's only fundraiser (of the year)," she said. "We're hoping for a very positive event."
In the past, the money raised by the event has been used to remodel the shelter kitchen, buy plane and bus tickets for the victims to help distance them from the abuser, or to pay legal fees they have incurred from the incident, Card said.
The hope is to use the money generated from this year's festival for shelter flooring and bathroom remodels, she said.
"Because we get this funding," Card said, "we are able to help (victims). We are able to do so many things with this money."
In addition to the trees and gifts, there are quilts, scarves and beanies available for purchase at the event.
"People come in here for the quilts every year," said Katherine Van Dyke, an event volunteer.
Van Dyke said she is hoping for a successful event because of the growing needs of the shelter.
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