Pacifica Resident National Finalist for 'Deck the House'

Mary Ellen Forrest has a chance at winning a $100,000 donation for the Pacifica School and Jefferson Union High School districts.

Forrest is one of 24 national finalists in the Patch 'Deck the House' contest.

As a finalist she is guaranteed $500 to help pay those holiday-sized electric bills and a shot at winning a $100,000 donation for her public school districts.

Forrest said she will be spreading the word to friends and family around the country to vote for her.

"If there's a chance to help the Pacifica schools then I am all for it because this is a very poor school district," she said.

Please click here to vote! National voting in the Deck the House contest began on Dec. 30.

Vote once a day, every day, for your favorite — and feel free to share the link on all your social networks! Voting ends at midnight ET on Jan. 8.

Forrest's photo submission for the Patch Deck the House contest only shows one scene from her spectacular front yard.

While the photo shows Santa sitting in an antique red sleigh surrounded by glowing Christmas trees and led by lifelike reindeer, it fails to capture the full-on nativity scene equipped with this year's addition: camels for the wise men.

Forrest said she has been decorating her Amapola Avenue home since she bought the house in 1991. Each year she has been adding to her holiday display.

She originally decked out her house for her little nieces and nephews to enjoy, but now the neighborhood children keep her motivated, she said.

"The kids in the neighborhood literally guilt you into it," Forrest said.

In addition to at least eight Christmas trees, Santa with reindeer and the nativity scene, remote speakers play Christmas carols.

Forrest is accustomed to car loads of people taking pictures of her front lawn. "There are pictures of it probably everywhere," she said.