LEYDEN — It’s certainly the season of giving.
You could see in a crowd of people drawn recently to the Leyden Town Hall to make wreaths at the annual workshop fundraiser for the Leyden United Methodist Church. With two workshop sessions, the fundraiser was able to raise $600 in the first hour.
Rings, wire and three different kinds of pine greens as well as instruction on how to make a wreath and a bow to go with it were provided to those there. The greens were donated from the East Hyland Farm, in Leyden.
Emily Herron-Clark, of Bernardston, and her sisters coordinated the event to help the church.
“My aunt started this event when I was a kid and a few years ago I started it up again to help the church,” Herron-Clark said. “The church is in a financial crisis and this money will help maintain it —by paying the bills for heat and electricity as well as others.”
People in attendance, whether it was their first time making a wreath or not, said they had fun wrapping pines around the wire circles.
Kristina Streeter, of Bernardston, said she was learning how to make a wreath as she went along.
“I brought my mom because we did it last year and had so much fun that we came back to do it again,” Streeter said. “It’s nice to learn something new.”
Kayla Lapine, of Bernardston, said she liked the event because it gave her time to spend with her friends and family.
“I love it so much,” Lapine said. “It’s so much fun to make, and it smells fantastic.”
Similarly, Angela Dubie and Nolan Dubie of Greenfield came to spend mother-son time together.
“It’s awesome,” Nolan Dubie said. “I love making it, it’s fun to do.”
“His comes out better than mine!” Angela Dubie said. “We like to come every year.”
Friends Katherine Chmura and Laura Mitchell, of Shelburne, said they found the event on Facebook.
“We like to do things that are different,” Mitchell said. “Plus it supports the church, so it’s a good cause.”
Karen Kane of Colrain said she makes wreaths frequently and learned from a workshop in Colrain.
“I missed their workshop this year,” Kane said. “So I came to this one. I brought some of my own parts to add like these plastic flowers. I brought my little sister to make one, too. It’s really fun to do.”