The Grinch is Striking

St. Al’s Festival of Trees is being cancelled this year! The event is usually held over Thanksgiving Weekend.

“Our hearts were hoping for the best, but our heads told us we have to do the right thing. The health and safety of our community is our top priority and it would be irresponsible to move forward given the data and information we have,” said Gary Raney, Chair of the Saint Alphonsus Foundation. “

In a press release, the hospital said reducing in-person gatherings is key to fighting the growing infection rates of COVID-19.

“As a healthcare system and as caregivers, we have a responsibility to navigate the pandemic with caution and provide a safe environment for those within our hospital, as well as limiting large community gatherings that we would normally have,” said Odette Bolano, President and CEO of Saint Alphonsus Health System.

This year, the new Neuro/Trauma Intensive Care Unit at Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise was designated as the Festival of Trees beneficiary. The Foundation is forming a new fundraising plan for the project.

The annual holiday event is expected to return in 2022.