NORMAL - Just when it looked like organizers of the Festival of Trees had fallen short of its goal, a church group came through with a big gift.

Flanagan United Methodist Church donated $5,000, said festival spokesman Pete Moore, bringing the festival's total to $140,000. The festival benefits The Baby Fold, which offers residential treatment, child welfare and family support services.

"We sold the parsonage. We don't need to keep the money so we're giving it to various charities," said the Rev. David Baker of Minonk. The church has 22 members.

Festival chairman Larry Phillips had expected to announce a shortfall.

"We were blown away" by the gift, he said. "That was a special blessing. It was literally the 12th hour."

Calvary United Methodist and First United Methodist, both in Normal, are gave $5,000 or more, as did Young America Realty and the Interstate Center.

Phillips said the festival's purpose is twofold: A gift to the community as one of the first holiday events of the season, and to raise money for the Baby Fold, which currently is helping more than 3,000 children and 850 families.

The 13th annual festival, held in mid November, had record attendance that topped 10,000, said spokeswoman Julie Payne.

The event continues to evolve into a "more kid-friendly, family-family event," with Jingle Bell Junction introduced last year as the centerpiece for children's activities, said Phillips.

The signature of the event remains the many decorated trees. This year, 88 trees were sold. Also auctioned were 37 celebrity items. A signed 1980s photo of the Olympic men's hockey team -"the Miracle on Ice" was the most expensive celebrity item, and sold for $775, Moore said.

A record number of volunteers - 700 up from 600 last year - helped introduce events including a community Thanksgiving worship service and an American Girl doll pageant.

The festival is already accepting volunteers for next year, when the festival will be Nov. 14 to 18. For more information, visit www.FestOfTrees.org.

By the numbers

885,000: Number, in dollars, the festival has raised in 13 years;

140,000: Goal and amount raised this year;

5,000: Amount, in dollars, of the final donation;

700: Number of volunteers;

88: Number of trees auctioned for the charity.