The 1998 Fantasy of Trees and Lights, an annual Ames area charitable event held Nov. 21-22 at the Holiday Inn Gateway Center, used a holiday decoration ritual to help those who are terminally ill.

“It is sponsored by the Mary Greeley [Medical Center] Auxiliary and the [Mary Greeley Medical Center] foundation,” said Tanya Anderson, member of the auxiliary and assistant trust officer at First National Bank.

All of the proceeds for the event went to the Israel Family Hospice House, Anderson said.

The Israel Family Hospice House, which will accept its first patients by January 1999, will provide care for terminally ill patients and their families, according to a press release.

“This is a fund-raising event that will provide on-going support for the hospice house,” Anderson said.

This year’s Fantasy of Trees and Lights featured holiday trees decorated by various groups and organizations in Ames, and wreaths were raffled off at the end of the event in a silent auction.

Tree viewing, an Avenue of Wreaths, a miniature forest, Santa’s Workshop, Rudolph’s Boutique and a “Bear-to-Care” tree also were included in the activities.

“The Bear-to-Care tree is to create awareness in the community and with children,” Anderson said. “We want to raise awareness that some children are not as fortunate.”

She said the Bear-to-Care tree was used to collect cash donations and teddy bears to adorn a 14-foot tree. The teddy bears will be given to children while in the hospital.

“We encourage people to bring in the teddy bears to a number of drop-off points,” Anderson said. “The teddy bears will be distributed to the pediatric floor of the hospital, the emergency room, special agencies within Story County as well as to the hospice house.”

The drop-off boxes are located in the Mary Greeley Medical Center main lobby, the Ames City Clerk’s office, Ames elementary schools, First National Bank and the North Grand Mall management office.