Category: Brighten Up St. Johns

Thank you St. Johns! Despite a late start, the community support for the Brighten Up St. Johns campaign was amazing.

We were able to light 50 trees, including 5 new trees along Burlington Avenue, making our downtown business district inviting and safe even on dark winter nights.

Brighten Up St. Johns Totals

The totals for 2017 are in for the Brighten Up St. Johns campaign:

• GoFundMe — $950
• Donations into cans at local merchants — $1,219
• Metamorphic Sock Sale — $250
• Ace Hardware round up campaign — $571

Grand Total: $3,486!

We didn’t reach our goal of $5,000 but will be back next fall with more lights and plans to start raising funds earlier in the season.

2018 Sponsor(s) Needed

We are looking for a corporate sponsor for the 2018 Brighten Up St. Johns campaign. The sponsor or sponsors will receive marketing and promotions opportunities as well as the thanks of the St. Johns community. Let us know if you are an interested business by sending the St. Johns Boosters an email.

Enjoy the lights as they continue to shine throughout the dark winter season.

We all love the tree lights that the St. Johns Boosters install and update annually. During the dark days of winter they beautify our downtown business district, improve pedestrian safety, and encourage shopping and dining at local businesses.

That holiday glow extends into the spring until the trees start leafing out. These lights we all love, however, need funding.

Ace Hardware donated 175 strands this year to replace light strands that had burned out. Some business owners also donate to cover the cost of lighting the trees in front of their store or restaurant. Still, the cost is up to $5,000 each year for the permit, installation, and lift rental.

After a good start in this year’s fund raising, we are coming up short. As of December 13th, the community has donated $2354 toward the $5,000 needed:

• Ace Hardware’s “round up” campaign brought in $571 in November.
• Metamorphic’s sock sale, with the proceeds going to the Brighten Up St. Johns campaign and St. Johns’ Food Share, brought in $250.
• Donations into the GoFundMe campaign are at $810.
• Donations into cans left at local merchants are at $723 at last count.

Please donate through the GoFundMe Brighten Up St. Johns campaign or by giving when shopping at local merchants. Donation cans are set near the cash registers at about 40 local businesses.

It’s the generosity of our community that keeps the lights going each year. Let’s keep this St. Johns tradition alive.

Please help us fund this community endeavor.

The St. Johns Boosters need your help making the holiday season shine. Everybody loves the lights on the downtown trees that improve public safety and bring shoppers out to local merchants and restaurants.

Last year, with your generous gifts, the Boosters were able to repair 35 trees that were already lighted and light an additional 10 trees! In 2017 we hope to maintain and repair lights on 45 trees and light an additional 5 trees on Burlington Ave.

We have 45 cans out at local merchants. If you would like to host a donation can at your place of business, contact Beth Preciso at The Man’s Shop, 503-286-3514.

We will keep this campaign up through the holiday season. Please donate early and donate often.

Our tax identification number is 93-6031813. Thank you.

Or donate today via our Go Fund Me Campaign, Brighten Up St. Johns. [button link=”https://www.gofundme.com/brighten-up-st-johns”]Go Fund Me[/button]