The United Way of Northern Chautauqua County opened its fifth annual United Community Christmas Contest earlier this week. Submitted photo

If you’re in need of a wreath for the holidays, the United Way has a great way to help you find one, while helping out the community in the process.

The United Way of Northern Chautauqua County officially launched its fifth annual United Community Christmas Contest through its Facebook page earlier this week.

Each of the last five years, the United Way has enlisted the help of local businesses to decorate for the holidays through a contest in which decorative wreaths are bid on. The wreaths with the most reactions on Facebook through the photo album on the United Way of Northern Chautauqua County Facebook page are declared the winners.

“We’ve been fortunate to see it grow every year. It’s been so warmly embraced from the public that gets involved, not just the people on Facebook but also the participants from the community,” said Adam Dolce, executive director of the United Way of Northern Chautauqua County. Dolce noted within the first 24 hours, the event’s Facebook album reached almost 20,000 people online.

The proceeds from the purchase of the wreaths will be split between the United Way and the winner’s choice of a United Way partner or local non-profit. Voting and bidding ends at noon Monday.

Only reactions to the photo in the original album count toward the contest. Bids can be made in the comment section of the photo of the wreath. Payment instructions will be sent to the winners, and wreaths can be picked up in the United Way of Northern Chautauqua County office at 626 Central Ave, Dunkirk once notified of the winning bid.

“When we look at the impact of an event like this, certainly this benefits us, but it also benefits the community partner of the winning wreaths, as well,” said Dolce. “It’s really a win all around for everyone involved.”

This year’s contest features 28 wreaths in total, which represents a record number of entries for the event. Unless noted, wreaths are 18-inch pine wreaths sourced locally through 4C Tree Farm in South Dayton. Some wreaths may contain prizes that are age restricted, in which case someone of appropriate age must pick up the wreath.

Prizes are based on participation and awarded back to the charity of the winner’s choice. Top prize for half of the proceeds collected through registration is determined by the top vote getter. A second prize equivalent to the top bid for top priced wreath is awarded by that wreath’s creator to a charity of their choosing.

The United Way of Northern Chautauqua County’s proceeds go to help fund 24 programs in the community run by 14 United Way Community Partners. The United Way’s mission is to empower our local community through education, financial stability and health. One in three of our neighbors have been impacted by local outcome-based programming through United Way partners and United Way programs.

This year’s participants are SUNY Fredonia Technology Incubator, Shults Resale Center, Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation, Lakeshore Humane Society, Putnam Record Insurance, Jamestown Community College, Cattaraugus County Bank, MD Star Presentations, Double A Vineyards, M&T Bank, Domus Fare, Lakeshore Employee Testing Services, and Dunkirk Public Library.

Two businesses have made multiple entries across departments or branches. Ag Team and the Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union have each entered five wreaths. A special group of businesses are entering their fifth contest, having taken part every year it has been running, including Bahgat and Laurito-Bahgat, Liberty Vineyards, North Chautauqua Dental and Cattoos. Past winners include three-time winner Cattoos and last year’s winner, the Lakeshore Humane Society.

The contest would not have been possible without the support of the McTaggart family of Bear Lake, who donated the materials used for the first two years of the contest.

“The McTaggart family coming forward with a donation of Christmas trees at the beginning really set this off. I’m really proud of the way this event has grown since then,” said Dolce.

The Christmas event is the latest of the United Way’s efforts in the community to make a difference. A winter coat drive launched in October, which to date has distributed more than 150 coats to people in need in the community.

“We definitely see the demand on that. It’s another example where the community comes together to help meet needs of others,” said Dolce.

Individuals in need of a coat are encouraged to visit the Chautauqua County Rural Ministry, while groups or agencies with a larger quantity in need are urged to call the United Way at (716) 366-5424.

For more information, look online at unitedwayncc.org and follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.