Nov. 25—FAIRMONT — Visitors to Middletown Commons in the coming weeks are likely to catch a glimpse of several well-decorated trees representing different corners of Marion County, each participating in a fundraising program that was revived this holiday season.
On Monday evening, community members representing Pierpont Community & Technical College, Fairmont State University and a number of local businesses came together at Middletown Commons to decorate Christmas trees that will raise money on behalf of Tygart Valley United Way.
Held annually, the Giving Tree event brings local partners together to decorate small Christmas trees that will then be raffled off to members of the community. These trees are on display in Middletown Commons until Dec. 11, when individuals who purchased a raffle ticket will learn whether they get to take a tree of their choice home for the holidays.
To purchase a raffle ticket for a tree they would like to take home, community members can scan a QR code featured on their desired tree that will direct them to a website for purchasing raffle tickets.
Among those in attendance on Monday was Kari Woodman, records specialist and veterans affairs representative at Pierpont. Woodman's husband works at Fairmont State, and she said that having both colleges come together to decorate Christmas trees on Monday was an opportunity for community building.
"There's so much out in the news about us being two separate institutions and not liking each other — stuff like that. It's not true," Woodman said. "We're really just trying to bring our whole community together."
Likewise, Fairmont State President Mike Davis attended Monday's event and said the college's participation in the Giving Tree program this year reflects its efforts to more deeply integrate itself in the Marion County community at large.
"I say every day, 'We're a public university. We've got to be a public resource,'" Davis said. "We want, when people walk through here, to see the Fairmont State tree and think about Fairmont State as part of the community."
Through this, Davis said he and the Fairmont State administration hope to become a more visible and recognizable presence in the local community.
"You don't have to come to Fairmont State to see our impact every day. You can see it wherever you go," he said. "This is just one thing we can do."
In addition to the local colleges participating, several local businesses decorated Christmas trees for the event this year, namely Adams Office Supply, MVB Bank, Studio Z, White Hall Spirits and the Flower Barn of White Hall.