{"id":3824,"date":"2019-11-13T13:51:02","date_gmt":"2019-11-13T18:51:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/54.235.7.55\/?post_type=news-items&p=3824"},"modified":"2022-11-05T13:51:14","modified_gmt":"2022-11-05T17:51:14","slug":"lighthouse-kicks-off-shine-your-light-for-the-holidays-campaign","status":"publish","type":"news-items","link":"https:\/\/lighthousemi.org\/news-items\/lighthouse-kicks-off-shine-your-light-for-the-holidays-campaign\/","title":{"rendered":"Lighthouse Kicks off \u2018Shine Your Light for the Holidays\u2019 Campaign"},"content":{"rendered":"

We\u2019re packing 1,500 Thanksgiving dinner boxes, adopting 1,000 families in need, and raising $750,000 to help thousands of others who are struggling in our community \u2013 and you can help.<\/em><\/p>\n

All Saints\u2019 Episcopal Church in Pontiac was packed with good cheer on a frigid November night as Lighthouse kicked off its 2nd<\/sup>\u00a0annual Shine Your Light for the Holidays Campaign. This year\u2019s event, presented by Ford Motor Company Fund, was extra special because it\u2019s the first year for the new Lighthouse (formed when Lighthouse of Oakland County and South Oakland Shelter merged earlier this year.) Together, we are providing a stronger response to poverty in our community.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just want to say thank you for being here,\u201d Lighthouse CEO Ryan Hertz told the crowd. \u201cThere are 20,000 households in Oakland County that are low income that are rent burdened and pay more than a third of their income on their rent. There are a lot of people living right on the edge. Our organization is here to help end poverty and help make sure that everybody in our community feels safe and supported, has a reasonable and decent quality of life, and has hope and can envision a positive future for themselves and their loved ones.\u201d<\/p>\n

This year, Lighthouse will distribute 1,500 Thanksgiving dinner boxes complete with turkeys and all the trimmings. Genisys Credit Union generously provided the funding that was triple matched by Meijer in order to purchase all of the turkeys. Lighthouse is also adopting 1,000 families in need for Christmas through our signature Adopt-a-Family program and we\u2019re raising $750,000 to provide year-round services to working families and seniors who are unable to keep up with the increasing cost of living.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love this energy in this room and it means so much because what Ford believes in is community,\u201d said Rene Palileo with Ford Motor Company Fund who presented a surprise $25,000 donation to Lighthouse and urged others to give as well.<\/p>\n

The Shine Your Light event was free and open to the community and full of family fun. Children decorated ornaments, wrote letters to Santa, and enjoyed cider and donuts, a hot cocoa bar, hot dogs, sliders and more. Jolly old Saint Nick himself made an appearance at the event. There were also a photo booth, balloons, and an award ceremony honoring the following dedicated Lighthouse volunteers: Debbie Warner, Susan Betterly, Geoff Briegn, Helen Staszak, Carol Goldworthy, Vince Carter, Tarra Mitchell, and Judy Web. Local 4 meteorologist Andrew Humphrey served as the evening\u2019s emcee.<\/p>\n

Thank you to this year\u2019s sponsors: Ford Motor Company Fund, Blue Cross Complete, Williams International, Ascension, Yates Cider Mill, Meijer, and Genisys Credit Union.<\/p>\n

Join our efforts and shine your light for our neighbors in need! To donate,\u00a0 visit\u00a0lighthousemi.org<\/a>\u00a0or call 855.92.SHINE. You can also help out with any of the events listed below. All will take place at All Saints\u2019 Episcopal Church in Pontiac (171 W. Pike St.) unless otherwise noted.<\/p>\n