Lights Of Hope Branching Out To Help Multiple Causes

December 30, 2009 by Josh Morgan

In a little more than two weeks, the sun will go down and tiny candles flickering in the darkness will illuminate the streets of Cheshire once again.
On Jan. 9, small luminaries will line many streets in Cheshire, as the Lights of Hope continue to shine around town. Started after the Petit family murders in 2007, Cheshire’s Lights of Hope has grown into a community-wide event, that has evolved from a night of healing after a tragedy to an evening of togetherness and friendship. Don and Jenifer Walsh took the lead for Lights of Hope, an event that they had held in their own neighborhood as a fundraising effort for the Multiple Sclerosis Society years ago. After the Petit murders, the Walshes expanded the event to encompass the entire town, which Jenifer Walsh recalled as being a way to help the community heal by “wrapping the town in hope.”
“We brought this to the entire town after the tragedy and we needed to do that to heal,” Walsh explained. “Now, it’s not just about the Petits anymore. It’s about coming together, watching out for your neighbors, and being friendly with people who you don’t know.”
Cheshire’s Lights of Hope is a non-profit organization and the money raised by selling luminaries will be distributed to different local groups. This year, the money will be divided into thirds, with a scholarship at Cheshire High School, the food pantry at St. Bridget’s Church, and the Petit Family Foundation being the three recipients.
Walsh said many people volunteered to be street captains and organize the event in their own neighborhoods. However, those who missed the deadlines can still purchase luminary kits – 10 candles and bags for $10 – at R.W. Hine Hardware.
“We had to have deadlines for the street captains, but we’re still selling kits at Hines,” Walsh said. “Those who don’t have a kit can buy them up until the actual day of the event.”
In previous years, businesses along Route 10 were approached to buy luminaries to line the entire main street of Cheshire in candlelight. This year, however, even though business sponsorship is up 25 percent, Walsh decided to create a Mile of Hope – from Cheshire High School to the center of town.
“Logistically, we couldn’t do all of Route 10. It was so much work and so many volunteers were needed,” Walsh said. “We’ll have signs up for our sponsors and, so far, this has worked out fabulously.”
As of mid-December, approximately 50,000 luminaries had been sold, Walsh explained, which she said was good because many residents and businesses are still reeling from the sluggish economy. Streets that did not participate the first two years are now coming on board, which is a sign to Walsh that the event is spreading to new areas of town.
“People are catching on and seeing how beautiful this event is,” Walsh said. “I am very happy with everyone’s support.”
Walsh said that, even though Lights of Hope spread across Cheshire following the Petit tragedy, she envisions the event going on annually for many years as a community event.
With non-profit status, the group can continue to collect funds and distribute them to worthy causes around town.
“We did this before the tragedy and brought it town-wide after the tragedy,” Walsh said. “We want to raise money and support this town and community. There is a lot of need here and we want to continue to do this event. We’re in it for the long haul.”
For more information, visit the Web, www.cheshireslightsofhope.com.