Every year since 2012, Brianne Dornbush has spent the first week of December preparing for the Columbia Heights Tree Lighting. She has worked to get a tree donated or at a reduced price, called on volunteers to help put it up and stabilize it, and gathered friends and neighbors for a tree lighting – usually with hot chocolate, caroling, and an appearance from Santa! When she joined District Bridges in 2015, she brought the Tree Lighting with her and now the event is a staple in the Columbia Heights holiday season.
However, in 2022 something happened that she had never seen before. She woke up one morning and the Columbia Heights Tree had gone viral. You probably know this special tree by his celebrity name – Tiny Timber.
Also lovingly nicknamed “the Short King of Christmas,” Tiny Timber went from undiscovered to full-blown celebrity status overnight when Washingtonian Problems posted about his short stature on Instagram. Tiny Timber came to be after a variety of circumstances – the tree farm that used to donate the tree went out of business during the pandemic, we can’t order the tree before October 1 because of how our grants are structured, in 2022 there were no trees available above 12 ft from local vendors, and then when we did order a 10-12ft tree, what showed up was closer to 7-8ft. These things happen! What was unexpected was the response to our perfectly petite tree. In addition to WashingtonianProbs, Tiny Timber got featured on DCist, Fox5, Washingtonian, and received shoutouts from journalists.
This year, we are incredibly grateful to several sponsors and partners, including ANC1A and Amazon, who have ensured that the Columbia Heights Tree Lighting can continue for years to come, but Tiny Timber is still in our hearts! In many ways, the story of Tiny Timber is also the story of District Bridges: we’re a small nonprofit, and the work that we’re trying to do across the District is massive. For almost a decade, District Bridges has prioritized community-built, community-driven programming that supports local businesses and invests in communities. Help us continue to do this vital work by donating or buying your own Tiny Timber Merch!
Chapter 1
In a town called DC, there once was a tree,
Who had a big heart, but looked quite tiny.
He hoped he’d bring joy, and good will inspire,
But the town said he left a lot to be desired.
“He’s puny,” folks cried, “what an epic fail!’
But Tiny Timber knew there was more to the tale.
“But surely the folks complaining and poo-pooing,
Couldn’t know about all the work we are doing!”
Tiny Timber’s fame grew, and some people in town,
Disliked him so much, they knocked him right down!
But seeing his wee little branches get hurt,
The community came to defend the little Fir.
That’s when the town finally saw Timber’s heart,
And the work he was doing to set himself apart,
Other trees in town might be flashy and pretty,
But Timber helps people all over the city.
Chapter 2
Tiny Timber looked out at the bustling stores
And did all he could to bring folks through their doors.
But the Plaza had neighbors that needed help too
But they weren’t shop-owners, so what could he do?
He had an idea to reach out to those friends
Hear their struggles, see them through a new lens
So he gathered support and started making connections
He wanted to go in a whole new direction.
He helped his neighbor’s lives be improved,
He didn’t see them as a problem to be avoided or moved.
Whether through a hot meal or listening ear,
He built relationships that were sincere.
Whether a store owner or neighbor in need,
Tiny Timber knew all must be heard to succeed.
Although things in life always have some unfairness,
We all must try to raise our awareness.
Chapter 3
With each passing year, his impact grew,
But he knew there was still so much work to do!
Tiny Timber knew he wasn’t the only one
Lending a hand to get the job done.
A lot of people doing good high and low
But so many of us do our work in silos!
There must be a way for us to come together
And grow stronger with each connection we tether
Tiny Timber recalled all the partners who assist him,
And knew the way forward was an ecosystem.
One where work could stop being duplicated
Competitive thinking is so overrated!
If we want to succeed as a collective,
We must adopt a holistic perspective
Take joy in our work, find perseverance and fun
So that in DC, there’s community for everyone.
And you can help too, when the future feels fraught
If we all give a little, we can help a lot.