Sugar House resident gives ‘A Child’s Dream’ to Festival of Trees

Every Christmas, a Sugar House resident and her friends give a special gift to make the holiday season brighter for sick children receiving treatment at Primary Children’s Medical Center.

Marge Smith and friends Dennis and Carolyn England, Christine Smith, Carol Hammond and Donna Springer have made it a tradition to decorate a Christmas tree to donate to the annual Festival of Trees.

Smith said decorating the tree has been a wonderful way to get into the Christmas spirit of giving each year.

“It’s just a good feeling to be able to help,” she said.

Smith has lived in Sugar House her whole life and witnessed “a lot of change” in the community, she said.

She attended historic neighborhood schools, including the old Forrest Elementary at about 2100 South 900 East (where the Smith’s grocery is now) before it was torn down; Nibley Park Elementary; Irving Junior High School before the building burned down and was converted to housing; and graduated from South High School before it was closed.

Smith was employed by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints after graduating high school, where she spent all of her working years before she retired.

The group of friends met while working at the Church Family History Department many years ago. The first tree they decorated for the Festival of Trees was a small, tabletop-sized tree in honor of co-worker Linda White, who’d passed away that year.

England said each Christmas the tree donated by the group got bigger and better. He said the group’s holiday tradition had them “hooked” on making a difference in the lives of local children.

“We love doing it. We do it for the kids. All six of us feel like this is the best charity to donate to,” England said.

For more than 40 years, the Festival of Trees has displayed traditional holiday Christmas trees, wreaths, centerpieces, gingerbread creations and quilts. One hundred percent of the funds raised from the sale of donated holiday items go to benefit the children served by Primary Children’s.

The Festival of Trees was held from Nov. 30 to Dec. 3, at the South Towne Expos Center, 9575 South State Street.

This year, Smith and friends donated a 7-foot tall artificial evergreen tree topped with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and decorated with more than 200 miniature toy ornaments such as matchbox cars and small dolls in the theme of “A Child’s Dream.”

Children’s toys, games, books, an art set and two bicycles also surrounded the tree, which filled two spaces at the festival this year.

The group spent months getting ready for the festival and more than $1,000 to prepare the Christmas tree and toys. When sold, the Christmas tree raised about $1,600 for Primary Children’s.

Smith said getting the Christmas tree ready for the festival each year is something she looks forward to. She said she and the group are already preparing for next year.

“It gives you something to think about and work on all year,” Smith said.