Tim Gathering and Marshall Sims admiring their hardwork.

Schenck Job Corps CCC students, assist with the annual “Festival of Trees.”

The annual Christmas tree display called the “Festival of Trees” was celebrated at the historic Silvermont Mansion in Brevard, NC.  The Festival of Trees is a fundraiser given each year for the Children’s Center of Transylvania County.  The Children’s Center of Transylvania County runs active and preventive programs to combat child abuse and neglect.  The five-day event features over 30 decorated Christmas trees, which are sold in order to raise money for the Children’s Center. 

Like any event, it takes lots of preparation and planning.  However, only a few people know that behind the scenes the landscaping students and instructors at the Schenck Job Corp CCC help prepare the trees for the big event.  This involves the cleaning of the trees, trimming small branches and other maintence to ensure the health of the tree throughout the holiday season.  The Schenck Job Corp CCC landscaping students, along with their instructors Kathy Blecha and Allen Johnson, have been involved with this event for the past ten years.

 Barbara Prugh, with the Children Center of Transylvania County, said “this event would not be possible without all the assistance of Schenck Job Corp CCC students and staff.” This is a service the Schenck Job Corp CCC students provide to the Children’s Center of Transylvania County at no cost; which aids in the fundraising efforts to raise moneys for Children Center of Transylvania County.

Lamar Woods, a landscaping student at Schenck Job Corps CCC, stated he is glad to be a part of the efforts to help the Children’s home in anyway.  He also said, he was taught at a very young age that it is always important to help others and he is happy to be part of a program that does just that.