LET YOUR LITTLE LIGHT SHINE: 7th YEAR UPDATE

LET YOUR LITTLE LIGHT SHINE: UPDATE 7th year!

In 2019, five active, community driven "little old ladies" desired to return Christmas Lights to the windiest place in Adams County Illinois: the Bowen Flats!  Located off the Illinois plains on state highway 94, lies a faith filled, rugged, black rich soil farmland known as Golden, IL.  A small but mighty town just like our organization: Golden Friends, now 8 members strong!

Back when we had nothing else to do (as if any spirit filled woman has NOTHING to do!) a few active community volunteers had a dream.  They desired to LET THEIR LITTLE LIGHT SHINE for the most sacred of seasons: CHRISTMAS

Golden may be small but it holds three historical Lutheran churches in town. Their rich architecture is worth the lovely country drive. Faith is ever present within the Golden community, therefore GOLDEN FRIENDS wanted our spirit to light up the country darkness where only God's stars peak through at night.  We set to updating ancient decorations by repainting & repurposing these ancient gems shown in the photo gallery below!  New LED lights were purchased to wrap the old large trees & Golden Librarian Shelly Jones found the perfect "antique flicker" bulbs that highlight the artistry of these beautiful antiques.

The GOLDEN LIONS CLUB originally donated the street pole decorations to the Village of Golden but due to new electrical requirements they had to be turned off.  This resulted in Golden, IL being dark for the joyous Christmas Season.  That was not sitting well with GOLDEN FRIENDS or the citizens of Golden, IL.  By "Letting Our Light Shine" once again we could pay homage to the amazing, dedicated members of the Golden Lions Club for all their service, volunteerism & resources they provided to our community throughout the years.  An Ameren Grant Our first grant award was a tiny seed but we never lost hope because our community came through. Then  Matt Schmidt provided a challenge: if we could raise the funds he would match them!  An Ameren Illinois grant allowed us to install electricity to the street poles in order to accommodate regulations & safety requirements. 

That is not the end of the story....returning lights would be wonderful but what if we also hosted a holiday event for families of all ages? Golden is a multi-generational community where citizens may move, relocate or go off to school however they always return "home", at least for a visit.  To dedicate the newly improved lights as well as the newly purchased 21st century decorations, GOLDEN FRIENDS created a free fun holiday event: GOLDEN CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE  (check out that Face Book page for highlights & information on this holiday extravaganza!)  The cover photo for this fundraiser highlights the newest decorations purchased by GOLDEN FRIENDS with additional funding from an Adams Electric Cooperative Penny Power Grant.

Our Little Light Shines the entire Village of Golden with more citizens decorating their home each year!  The event includes a home decorating contest within village limits. The GOLDEN CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE hosts a free event with food served by the GOLDEN HISTORICAL SOCIETY; mini Christmas Trees made by the residents of the Golden Good Shepherd Home auctioned off for their activity funds; a Veteran's Honor Christmas Tree; Greater West Central Public Library District sponsored Letters to Santa & Reading Buddies; crafts, tattoos & cookie decorating; the community wide Grinch Scavenger Gift Hunt & Santa arriving via Golden Firetruck!   That's not all folks.... Country Cousins 4H serves up hot cocoa, popcorn & coordinates the beloved beautiful horse drawn carriage rides from Rose Carriage Service.  

This holiday extravaganza has become a tradition heading into its 7th year. Last year we spent almost $1,500.00 just on new lights & decorations for the CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE. The event is held with financial & volunteer support from GOLDEN FRIENDS, GOLDEN HISTORICAL SOCIETY, DOT FOODS DOROTHY'S MARKET SMALL FOODS GRANT, THRIVENT FINANCIAL FOR LUTHERANS & our supportive sensational community!  We have not turned to the community to assist us with financing this event since 2019. Thank you for your support!

 

Streetlight decorations donated by Golden Lions Club decades ago, being refurbished for the 21st Century back in 2019.

 Golden Good Shepherd Nursing home decorated mini trees provided by GOLDEN FRIENDS

 Golden Christmas Open House exclusively hosts the Grinch!

 GOLDEN FRIENDS members preparing for the festivities!

 Rose Carriage service pulling up riders to the historic Prairie Mills Windmill, a beautiful venue for this Christmas event, or ANY event!   The ONLY group photo of the non-profit organization GOLDEN FRIENDS...because they are too busy volunteering to stop for a photo!

Funds donated to LET YOUR LITTLE LIGHT SHINE: 7th YEAR UPDATE fundraiser will be used to replace damaged lights, repair, create  & purchase new decorations. Thank you for your support.