Year after year, the dolls submitted in the “Dress the Dolls” contest are cute and creative, and this year was no exception.

Winner Christine Green, who lives in Rockford and works in Cedar Springs, was a first time participant in the seventh annual United Bank Dress the Dolls campaign. She entered a handmade red-cloaked ice skater complete with matching muff and tam. The old-fashioned full-length dress and cloak were trimmed in white. It was called the “Christmas Doll” by many voters. Christine was shocked to take the top prize after viewing the other entrants. “How could you choose one?” she said.

United Bank purchased 100 dolls that were dressed by customers, community friends, and several businesses. Doll attire ranged from formal wear to sleepwear, from a motorcycle “chick” to a pharmacist, from simple purchased clothing to hand stitched or knitted ensembles. The participants ranged in age from three (with help from mom) to retired grandmothers.

Six women in a doctor’s office challenged each other and each dressed a doll. One was sewn totally by hand. A woman from a local grocery store enters a full display each year—a cashier with register and shopping cart, a bakery with laquered rolls and loaves of bread. This year it was the pharmacy with shelves filled with items and a pharmacist. A woman from a coffee shop created a blue-jeaned doll in an apron, serving a cup of coffee. One Another doll was dressed in pajama pants and held a little bag that included a pair of matching pajama pants for the new owner of the doll. A knitting instructor entered two dolls displaying her talent. An auto shop dressed a doll as a mechanic, complete with an oil smudge on her cheek.

The dolls are displayed for three weeks and the public voted for their favorites. The bank donates the dressed dolls to the North Kent Service Center. The winning dolls will remain on display at United Bank until next year’s winner is named.

But the real winners are the 100 little girls who will receive a new doll on Christmas morning.

“We are so thankful for this program. The bank and the community have been so supportive and we look forward to partnering with them in the future” says Sandy Waite, Executive Director of NKSC. “Seeing the smiles on the faces of a mom picking up a special doll for her daughter is priceless.”