Light show adds $790 to pantry’s coffers in Mt. Morris

A local food pantry is $790 richer thanks to the hundreds of visitors who took part in Mt. Morris’ Christmas festival in November.

Jerry Stauffer presented a $790 check to officials of the Loaves and Fish Food Pantry in Mt. Morris after festival organizers received during the Lights On First Grand Lighting Ceremony held on Nov. 27.

“With donations that evening and additional donations received during the season the pantry received a total of $790,” Stauffer said in an email.

Paster Bruce McKanna, the Mt. Morris Brethren Church, said the pantry was grateful for the “wonderful expression of support” for the food pantry and thanked Stauffer’s efforts with Lights on First for bringing joy and encouraging generosity during the Christmas season.

Stauffer’s Lights On First show will kicked off Nov. 27 at 214 W. 1st. St. with more than 100,000 LED lights.

Social distancing was practiced at the event and patrons can watch from their cars and listen on 97.1 FM.

Stauffer worked with Ed Higley, another Mt. Morris resident, to create a map that showed decorated homes in Oregon and Mt. Morris.

The Higley Light Extravaganza at 309 W. Front St. included 11 controllers dispatching over 100 channels of lights to songs. Donations there were taken for Happy Tails Humane Society.

“We hope that this will bring a little joy to you and your family because we all know we need it this year,” the event’s Facebook said.

Let Freedom Ring’s Christmas events were Dec. 5 with the first annual Light up the Village Parade and Tree Lighting and to-go meals at the Senior Center.

Earleen Hinton

Earleen Hinton

Earleen creates content and oversees production of 8 community weeklies. She has worked for Shaw Newspapers since 1985.