by Amber Schmitz, Sumner Newscow — Christmas is the time of year to be thankful for what you have and to help those in need. To assist with the local Christmas needs of children, the Beta Sigma Phi sorority is hosting the annual Christmas Around the Town Tour on Sunday, Dec. 11 from 1-4 p.m. This year it will also add a Toast and Tour on Saturday, Dec. 10.

“I love it. Just as a spectator, going in and seeing houses I walked by as a kid and to be able to go in and see them, it’s really neat, and lots of fun,” said Beta Sigma Phi Sorority member Cassity Brungardt.

This is Brungardt’s fifth year of heading the holiday home tour, which has been a Wellington tradition for about 20 years.

The Beta Sigma Phi sisters host this annual holiday home tour as a fundraiser for local childrens’ holiday needs. There will be light refreshments served at each home. The places on the tour include:

• Nick and Michelle Wellington, 819 N. A St.;
• Tracy and Tami McCue, 22 Sunset Road;
• Phil and Annarose White, 210 E. 7th;
• Kelsey Curry, 624 N. Sylvan Lane;
• Mike and Carolyn Kelley, 32 Shadybrook Dr.

Tickets cost $10 each and are available at Shelter Insurance or at any home that is listed on the tour.

In addition to the annual holiday home tour will be the 2016 Toast and Tour, Saturday, Dec. 10 from 6 to 9 p.m. This is a new twist on the traditional tour, offering a twilight holiday home tour featuring cocktails and food provided by local restaurants Barefoot Jerry’s, The Dore, El Chile Verde, and Muffin Top Bakery. Gov’s Liquor is sponsoring all of the beverages at each home. All proceeds raised will help local children with holiday needs. Tickets are $30 each, which includes the Sunday tour, and are available at Shelter Insurance.

“All of the feedback from homeowners indicated that they wished everyone could see their houses all lit up at night, so we asked homeowners if they were willing to be open Saturday evening as well,” Brungardt said.

Traditionally, there are five homes on the tour, and they usually decorate to the nines for the holidays. Brungardt said it’s not always easy to find five homes to put on the tour, as some people become intimidated, so it’s a rule that if you’re in the sorority, you’re house has to be on the tour at least once.

“You kind of house hop to get holiday ideas, look at architecture and home style, get some food and beverages, it’s a really fun Sunday afternoon event in Wellington,” Brungardt said.

Two homes on the tour are over 100 years old. There is also a mid century home and new homes.

“It’s really cool to go in and look inside houses you drive by everyday, to pull back the curtain and see what’s inside,” Brungardt said.

Brungardt said that you might see a house that throws up Christmas, and the next house will be more elaborate, and have really interesting holiday pieces.

“I’m really excited about Saturday night,” Brungardt said. “We’re trying to gear it more toward men, to get more couples out on a date night, so we can get more of the community to participate in the event.”

Beta Sigma Phi is a women’s social group who gets together and does something fun in the community. Proceeds from all events they hold throughout the year are put back into the community, with 90% of it going back into the schools, which they donate to throughout the year. They also donate to the Food Bank and various other charitable organizations in town. The group offers a $500 scholarship to a graduating female who has a background in community service.

“All of the money we raise goes back into Wellington, we don’t donate any funds outside of Wellington,” Brungardt said.

Funds raised don’t just help purchase clothing and toys for children, they help the entire family.

“Generally, we help six families a year, one from each school, then we go shopping, wrap the gifts and present them to the families,” Brungardt said. “Typically, we spend $100 per child, and we also buy the families groceries and household goods. Last year, we helped a family pay their electric bill.”

There are other ways to donate toward the cause. The group is raffling a Christmas basket filled with $250 worth of holiday themed items, plus a $100 gift card for Mayfield Meats. This weekend, the basket will be placed downtown during the Christmas parade and open houses. Raffle tickets will also be available for purchase during the home tour. Mill Creek Lumber, which is now True Value Hardware, also donated live Christmas trees, and businesses decorated them. The trees will be auctioned off during the home tour.

“We would like to stock pile money so we can help as many kids as possible,” Brungardt said.

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