The Sickles’ Market Tree Lighting is back! As a thank you to its dedicated customers, and in the hopes of assisting employees affected by Hurricane Sandy, the popular holiday tree-lighting will return on Saturday, Dec. 1 at 5 p.m. And this year the event takes on new meaning as a fundraiser for Sickles employees who lost homes, vehicles and treasured possessions during Hurricane Sandy.

“I personally have never had to ask for help and neither have (my employees),” owner Bob Sickles wrote in a recent letter to customers. “But I am asking now.”

Though the market survived the storm relatively unharmed, thanks to what Bob Sickles called the “mother of all generators”, many of the market’s employees did not fare as well. Several lost homes; others saw personal possessions and irreplaceable heirlooms washed away by Sandy. In the hope of restoring some normalcy to their lives, Sickles Market has established an Employee Relief Fund with all proceeds going to the affected employees.

Those wishing to donate to the fund can do go directly to the market’s website, www.Sicklesmarket.com, where donations can be made through PayPal.  All proceeds will go directly to employees in need and be equally distributed.

The Dec. 1 tree lighting, which was discontinued a few years ago, will continue that relief effort. Two trees will be lighted on Dec. 1, and both will be raffled afterward, with proceeds going to the relief fund. Sickles will also conduct a “Guess How Many Trees are Sold at Sickles Today” contest, with a $1 donation requested for each guess. The winning guess will receive two, custom-decorated holiday wreaths, and Sickles will match the contest proceeds.

In addition, there will be a large stocking available at the market in which visitors can drop money or checks (payable to the Sickles Market Employee Relief Fund). Also, anonymous donations can be made at the Wells Fargo Bank in Little Silver to the fund. To date over $7,000 has been raised.

“Our hope is to help our employees recover at least some of the physical losses as well as the emotional ones, and to find normalcy in their lives,” Bob Sickles wrote to customers. “The storm might have destroyed the electrical grid for a brief time, but the thread of human kindness and compassion is unbreakable. Join us at this time if you can. We will have refreshments, music, and many thankful people!”