EASTON, Pa. — Look for stars galore in Easton on Saturday, as the Village on College Hill lights up the night on a mission to foster a sense of community and support the nonprofit New Bethany.
Saturday will mark College Hill’s first Luminaria Night, with homes throughout the community lining the streets with white paper bags containing lit candles.
Organizers say they hope this will encourage residents and visitors to remember those in need in the area during the holiday season.
“I was really blown away, I wasn’t expecting it. It’s definitely bigger than I expected. We’ll have over 3,000 lights on that night, and it’s going to be beautiful.”
Joan Nadovich, Village Treasurer of College Hill
Those interested in picking up the Luminaria collection can stop by Suite 106 at the Promenade Shops in Saucon Valley, right next to uBreakiFix and Patio, which will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, and the Moravian Book Store during business hours.
While Bethlehem’s Luminaria Night has drawn about 4,000 homes to participate in the joyful and charitable holiday tradition for 26 years, by all accounts, College Hill is seeking a strong start for its own project.
“It’s really blown me away, I wasn’t expecting it. It’s definitely bigger than I expected,” said Joan Nadovich, Village Treasurer of College Hill. “We will have over 3,000 lights lit that night, and it will be beautiful.”
“We will develop this further.”
Luminaria Night accompanies other notable winter holidays centered around light, including Hanukkah, Christmas, and the winter solstice.
As the Village on College Hill and New Bethany nonprofit say, the event infuses a sense of “we are the light in our neighbors’ darkest hours.”
Proceeds from luminaria purchases will go to New Bethany to benefit its mission to “support people experiencing poverty, hunger, and homelessness.”
“We want to encourage more outreach by getting them out of their homes, away from screens and TVs, and hopefully out into the neighbourhoods. We hope to develop this further in the coming years and we will get out more and do more activities in the neighborhood that evening.”
Joan Nadovich, Village Treasurer of College Hill
The Village at College Hill is a non-profit organization providing support and services to College Hill residents over the age of 50.
Nadovic said she was inspired to get her group involved in the program after reading about blue zones, areas where people report living longer, happier and healthier lives.
“I saw it as a great opportunity to instill community spirit and foster community in this neighborhood, among all ages,” Nadovich said.
“What I was reading is, in the blue zones, there are nine different points that they point to as factors for long life, longevity, and one of them is connecting with your community.”
This event helps focus the community on a common goal, encourages engagement among neighbors, and fosters new friendships and connections in the real world.
“We want to encourage more communication by getting them out of their homes, away from screens and TVs, and hopefully getting them out into the neighborhoods,” Nadovic said.
“We hope to develop this further in the coming years and will go out more and do more activities in the neighborhood that evening.”
“Seeing the spirit of giving”
Rebecca Rosenbauer, a member of the Village on College Hill, volunteered her centrally located garage to help distribute lights to residents, as well as keep the event organized by handling logistical issues.
Rosenbauer said she was pleasantly surprised by the reaction to their first year at Luminaria.
“We have been really pleased with how responsive the community has been, and how excited they have been to come with us in this first year of Luminaria,” she said.
“The first is the campaign message, which is to be the light in your neighbors’ darkest hours, as we try to remind everyone that so many people in our region, in our communities, are suffering.”
Bethany’s new development director, Tim Burke
The Village on College Hill group “came out of nowhere,” bringing a “tremendous response” from Easton residents to the fundraising event, said Tim Burke, director of New Bethany development.
Burke said Luminaria performs two vital functions in the neighborhoods where it is held.
“One is the message of the campaign, which is to be the light in your neighbors’ darkest hour, where we’re trying to remind everyone that a lot of people in our district, in our communities, are suffering,” Burke said.
“They may be food insecure; they may be struggling to pay their rent. And you may not know it, and this is just a reminder that there are so many people in our community who need our hope, our help and our support.”
“A secondary part of that is fundraising to help fund New Bethany’s work. So the money we raised has helped sustain operations here in our housing units, our drop-in center, our food pantry, and our case management services.”
According to Burke, seasonal events like Luminaria seem to inspire a strong sense of giving, not only because of the spirit of the season, but because of the frigid cold weather as well.
“I think as the weather gets colder, we become more aware of our neighbors who are homeless at street level, so we are more aware of the trials that some of our neighbors are going through,” he said.
“We had a great turnout for our Turkey Day drive a few weeks ago, and we had a huge food drive the weekend before Thanksgiving that we had a great turnout for.
“I find myself running to the parking lot while people call me and say, ‘Hey, I’m here to drop off the car.’” [something].’ Just today, we got delivery of feminine hygiene products and blankets to our customers.
“We see that spirit of giving more this time of year than ever before.”