Millcreek resident gets creative to give to sick children
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“Happy ‘Chew’ Year,” an 8-foot tree made entirely out of chewing gun, was constructed for the Festival of Trees by Carole Robinson.
For almost a decade, Mount Olympus resident Carole Robinson has been making the Festival of Trees part of her holiday tradition.
The Festival of Trees is an annual Christmas-season fundraiser to benefit sick children at Primary Children’s Medical Center.
For nine years, Robinson has been making her contribution to benefit the children by creating non-traditional, out-of- the-ordinary Christmas trees to donate.
She said anyone can get involved, because the trees don’t have to be expensive to make a statement of support.
“It’s a fun way to be creative. Every year, we try to make it whimsical and unique. It’s also fun because everything goes to the kids, so our family, neighbors and friends are always willing to help,” Robinson said.
Robinson has lived in the area for almost 20 years. Her sister, Kathy Peterson, lives across the street and also does trees for the festival each year.
This year, Robinson donated two trees to the festival. The first is an 8-foot-tall tree made of recycled green plastic soda bottles entitled, “It’s ‘Soda’ Christmas.”
Each of the soda bottles was frayed to look like branches and tree needles. The tree was then decorated and covered in lights.
The second tree is an 8-foot Christmas tree made out of chewing gum stuck to a frame entitled “Happy ‘Chew’ Year.”
Robinson said the gum tree was inspired by an art piece in Seattle, and is in keeping with her intentions to create unusual, unique trees that get attention.
To create the tree, Robinson began working on the project in June. She had her husband cut out a plywood frame, and got Boy Scouts, classrooms of children and neighbors to chew Sour Apple Bubbalicious gum to put on the tree frame.
The tree is also decorated with whole gumballs, which hang like ornaments and cover the tree base.
The most traditional part of each of the trees is the strings of lights.
“We always use lots of lights,” she said.
Robinson’s trees were on display at the festival, which was held at the South Towne Expo Center located at 9575 South State Street from Nov. 28 through Dec. 1.
All of the proceeds from ticket sales, the sale of the trees and other Christmas items and activities went to benefit families receiving medical treatments at Primary Children’s.
