Mercy HealthCare Foundation Director Liz Marthaler decorates a tree donated by Cathy’s Classics. The Festival of Trees helps children with health care needs. (Jean Schlegel / Times-Record)

By Jean Schlegel

Every year the Mercy HealthCare Foundation holds its Festival of Trees gala at the Eagles Aerie in Valley City.
The gala, which raised $19,000 last year and is co-sponsored by Lafarge Dakota Inc., helps kids with health care needs.
Since February 2008, Kristen Didier has received $6,400 for facial surgeries from the event’s funds, said Liz Marthaler, Mercy HealthCare Foundation director. Paityn Elston, a young girl with area ties who has had liver transplants, was given $5,000 with more to come, Marthaler said.
Kristen, 15, was born with facial paralysis on the left side of her face and has had two successful surgeries since January 2008.
“If it weren’t for the Festival of Trees gala and the financial help from people at our church, Our Savior’s Lutheran of Valley City, we probably wouldn’t have been able to do the surgeries,” said Melissa Didier, Kristen’s mom. “It’s lifted a big burden off our shoulders.”
Marthaler said: “It’s a really fun project because families are really relieved when they receive this help. They can’t get money anywhere else like this, and it’s easy to get through the Mercy HealthCare Foundation and its Festival of Trees.”
This year’s Festival of Trees is this Saturday.

For the full story, see the 11/25/2009 edition of the Valley City Times-Record.