First Parish of Westwood Christmas Wreaths & More Event a Success

Despite covid restrictions and a nor’easter bringing cold skies and rain, First Parish of Westwood's Christmas Wreaths & More holiday shopping and community building event of December 5th was a success.

“Our Christmas Wreaths & More event was a huge success due to the unwavering support of our parishioners who volunteered their time and talents,” said event co-chair, Barb Worth.

In October, event organizers decided to streamline traditional Christmas Fair activities and host a modified outdoor event. They would forgo familiar fair offerings of a baked goods Cookie Walk, luncheon, jewelry, and collectibles sales. Instead, event planners focused on selling fresh, hand-decorated wreaths. That main fundraising activity would be supported by a small sale of handmade items. Also aware that many small businesses were struggling this year, event planners relied upon parishioners for silent auction donations. The reimagined event, no longer a fair, was called Christmas Wreaths & More.

When further state restrictions were implemented in November, event planners moved almost all shopping online. The outdoor wreath sale was transformed to a drive-through shopping event. Shoppers would browse from their cars, assisted from outside by masked volunteers.

In the days leading up to the December 5th event, the forecast turned. Serious rain and snow from a nor'easter were predicted to run through the weekend. So, First Parish volunteers erected a large tent to protect both the hand-decorated wreaths and volunteers.

Two hours before the event, with rain coming down and a snowstorm expected to hit at 1 p.m., event planners debated what to do. They could go ahead, delay, or move the entire sale online. Finally, swayed by the preparation that had been done, the publicity that had gone out, and the unwavering commitment of volunteers regardless of weather, they went ahead.

“The wreaths were stunning this year and were created with social distancing and safety measures in place, “ said Ms. Worth. “To minimize contact, we placed many Christmas items and our silent auction online.” Confident in their preparations and volunteers, but unsure of weather and shoppers, event planners shortened their sale to end at noon.

At 10 a.m. that Saturday, the first shift volunteers stood with wreaths under the tents, as rain poured down, to see what the day would bring. Within minutes, shoppers appeared. Although the rain persisted, so also did volunteers and so did shoppers. Soon, just one decorated wreath remained. After making an aesthetic adjustment - a ribbon change - the last wreath went. At noon, they were sold out.

“We were concerned that people would not venture out in the middle of a storm and may have concerns about Covid safety, but we had so many of our regular customers and also some new ones that were not daunted,” said Ms. Worth. “What a wonderful, community-building event in the midst of the storm and pandemic! New Englanders are hearty people and we appreciate the greater Westwood community’s support of our church.”

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