The Vance County Relay for Life is sponsoring a Luminaria ceremony on Oct. 23 that is shaping up to illuminate a portion of Garnett Street with little bags of light to remember or honor lives affected by cancer.
Like so many events affected by the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and safety precautions, local organizers said they came up with a drive-thru event that people could participate in and enjoy while following social distancing protocols.
Christy Bennett talked with John C. Rose on Monday’s Town Talk and gave details about how to be involved.
It was somewhat of a challenge, Bennett conceded – how would they go from what had become a huge event with lots of people to an event that would satisfy the safety practices and still be a successful fundraiser?
Organizers Bennett, Carolyn Williams and Jeanette Brummitt “got creative,” she said. “It was really a group effort to try to find something we could do that would work,” she added.
“We’re keeping it real simple. It’s a good way to light up downtown.” People can drive down Garnett Street to enjoy the luminaries or they can walk along the sidewalks, if they have their masks on.
Bags are $10 each and can be purchased on the day of the event, but they also are available ahead of time so they can be decorated with names of loved ones before being returned and placed along with all the others.
They’ve already sold more than 700 so far, but Bennett said “the goal is to sell as many as we can.”
Bennett said the city is expected to add some extra illumination to the event – the underpass will be bathed in a purple glow, and the newly installed fountains will show off their multicolor light show as well.
Luminaries sometimes need a little weight to stay in place, but Bennett and her crew have thought of that, too. They will use canned foods to anchor the paper bags, which will be donated to ACTS afterward.
Visit www.relayforlife.org/vancenc to learn more.