VALLEY — The Alabama-Georgia Hospital Auxiliary’s Tree of Lights was lit for the first time in 2019 on Tuesday morning. The tall Leyland cypress is located on the grounds of EAMC-Lanier Hospital near the main entrance.

A longstanding tradition of the Auxiliary, the Tree of Lights is an enduring way to honor or remember someone special during the Christmas season. Donations to the Tree of Lights are tax deductible and allow the Auxiliary to continue its mission of acquiring equipment needed by EAMC-Lanier Hospital. Donor cards can be gotten at the hospital gift shop or via email by going to vickie.crenshaw@eamc.org.

A $5 donation gets a white light on the tree, $10 a red, $25 a green light, $50 blue, $75 yellow, and for donations of $100 or more, the donor is recognized for lighting the star on top of the tree.

The person making the donation can check a box on the card for the amount of their donation and can list the name of the person to be honored or remembered.

“This tree lighting is symbolic of the Christmas season and the birth of Jesus,” said Administrator Greg Nichols at the 10 a.m. ceremony. “What we are doing is significant because of what the Auxiliary does for us. We couldn’t do what we do at EAMC-Lanier without them. Members of the Auxiliary do a tremendous amount of volunteer work for us and they generate funds to buy equipment we need at the hospital. They use the money they raise so well. They are now in the process of purchasing a van for our nursing home.”

Eve Milner, vice president of clinical services for EAMC-Lanier, said the Auxiliary has purchased such items as blanket warmers for the emergency room, dry erase boards for the patient rooms, wheelchairs, stretchers, beds and many other items.