WESTBROOK – A group of dedicated volunteers is hard at work getting things ready for the Westbrook’s annual holiday tradition, the Festival of Trees, which opens on Saturday, Dec. 1 with breakfast with Santa at 8:30 a.m., and runs through Saturday, Dec. 8.

When all the work is done and the lights are switched on, more than 45 trees will grace the church hall, allowing the public to come in and soak in the holiday sprit while they admire the work done by various local agencies and businesses.

Earlier this week, Roberta Morrill was working with her husband George on the setup. Morrill, a member of the church who has been involved with the festival since it got started 12 years ago, said the festival is important for Westbrook.

“It’s an outreach to the community,” she said. “It’s a wonderful event.”

Morrill, who is in charge of the annual “Tips for Charity” luncheon (which is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 7), where local dignitaries serve lunch for tips donated to charities, said the money raised at the festival goes to both the Westbrook Food Pantry and the Westbrook Good Samaritan Fund. “

We try to give at least $2,000 to those charities,” she said.

While the organizational work leading up to the festival is difficult, it’s a labor of love for Morrill.

“When you do something over and over again, it’s not work, it’s fun,” she said.

Nicole Nappi and Patty Michaud from Westbrook Housing were among the volunteers setting up their tree, named “Ho Ho Housing,” on Tuesday afternoon. Wrapping a tree in red fabric, Nappi and Michaud said when it is finished, it will resemble a large Santa, complete with cap and black belt in the middle.

Nappi said she had fun coming up with the idea for the tree and putting it together.

“We love it. We do it every year,” Nappi, who will also be a waitress at the Tips for Charity luncheon, said. “We try and help the community any way we can.”

She also thinks the festival is a good thing for the city.

“I think it’s very important,” Nappi said. “It brings a lot of people in the community out. It brings different generations out, the kids come and see Santa, the seniors come for the Mad Hatters Tea Party, it’s great for the city of Westbrook.

“It’s a great event and it’s diverse,” Michaud agreed. “You have nonprofits, you have for-profit businesses donating, it’s a great way to get both meshed in.”

Jan Jaworski, who is in her first year on the Festival of Trees committee, said she has enjoyed the opportunity to see how the festival comes together each year.

“The whole premise is wonderful,” Jaworski said. “I think they have fun, they enjoy each other and it is a community feeling that everybody has. And they do so much for the community. It’s a lot of work, but the results are so beneficial to the community.”

Nicole Nappi, left, and Patty Michaud from Westbrook Housing set up their tree, named “Ho Ho Housing,” Tuesday afternoon at the Westbrook-Warren Congregational Church. The Festival of Trees opens Saturday.