Rebecca McCool, a resident of Churchville, last year restarted an old tradition on Christmas Eve – all of the neighbors uniting to put out luminaries on Christmas Eve to light up the streets.
“I moved here in 2019 and heard that the tradition was stopped, so I started it again last year. We had a great turn out from a lot of the homes, but definitely need more,” she said. “I am trying to get this started again this year and my hope is to get every home and resident to put the luminaries out on Christmas Eve.”
Approximately 20 streets participated last year. McCool hopes to make the initiative even bigger for 2021. She is currently seeking volunteers for each street. Volunteering includes:
– Getting the word out early about the project
– Collecting money for the luminaries from each house (it typically costs about $10 per home for supplies)
– Getting the supplies to homes
Last year, some people had one meet-up spot to distribute supplies. Or, residents can buy supplies on their own and disperse them to homes. The luminaries require white bags, electric or regular tea lights, and rocks or sand to keep the bags down. These items can be found on Amazon and hardware stores.
Email northamptonluminaries@hotmail.com if interested in volunteering and for more information.
