One of the wreaths competing for best decorated, and up for auction on the United Way’s Facebook page.

The United Way of Northern Chautauqua County kicked off its third annual United Community Christmas event on Tuesday.

This year’s event is very different than the past two years and features wreaths decorated by local businesses to help the United Way and compete for the chance to award a mini grant to a United Way partner. The event is located on the Facebook page of the United Way of Northern Chautauqua County, and will remain open for voting and bidding until Sunday at noon.

Visitors to the page will find a special album, titled United Community Christmas 2020, filled with the photos of the wreaths. Visitors are encouraged to “like” their favorite one. The wreath with the most likes will be declared the winner and will award a mini-grant to an agency of their choice. Visitors to the page will also have the chance to bring one of the wreaths home. The wreaths are decorated and would add a festive touch to the home they adorn. Some of the wreaths are also loaded with prizes and gift cards to local businesses. Bidding will take place in the comment section, and the highest bidder at noon on Sunday will be declared the winner.

Taking part in this year’s event is Shults Resale Center, Lawley Insurance, Inner Lakes Credit Union, Hamlet Farms, Liberty Vineyards, M&T Bank Fredonia, The Dunkirk Library, Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation, North Chautauqua Dental, Bahgat and Laurito-Bahgat, and the two time event winner, Cattoo’s.

“We have been so fortunate to feature trees the last two years and are excited by what this event may hold in the future by carrying on with wreaths,” said Adam Dolce, United Way of Northern Chautauqua County executive director. “We really appreciate the McTaggart family helping us to get this holiday initiative off the ground with their donation the last two years. We encourage everyone to visit our Facebook to like, share, and bid on the wreaths this year. It is a really fun event.”

In addition to the contest a number of the participating businesses have also sponsored families, arranged by the United Way. Those that take part have been given details on families and will help to provide a brighter holiday to them.

The United Way of Northern Chautauqua County serves the community by focusing on improving outcomes in the area’s health, education, and financial stability. They do this by bringing donors from across our community, workplaces, and businesses together to invest in United Way partners working in these areas, and by launching special initiatives. Last year United Way partners and programs touched the lives of more than 25,000 of our neighbors, friend’s and family. For more information, visit unitedwayncc.org.