VOLUNTEERS SET UP LIGHTS OF HOPE

November 7, 2011

Learn how you can support the Lights of Hope

Visit our Facebook page to see more pictures of our volunteers at Lights of Hope set-up day.

Getting up at 7:00 a.m. to work in potentially cold and rainy weather isn’t how most people plan to spend their Saturday. But on November 5, more than 100 volunteers did just that to help build the 2011 Lights of Hope display outside of St. Paul’s Hospital.

“I like the spirit of set-up day,” says Doug Hamming, Principal at Stantec and Lights of Hope volunteer for 12 years. “Everybody’s standing around with a pocket full of zap straps and a crude drawing of the display and we’re going to put this thing together, rain or shine, in the company of a broad spectrum of people with a common purpose.”

Every year, the Lights of Hope campaign illuminates the exterior of St. Paul’s with a spectacular display of holiday lights to inspire the community to give generously to the hospital. Building the display requires months of planning, the support of suppliers who donate materials (including 10 km of holiday lights and more than 100 stars recognizing donors to the campaign), and the dedication of the volunteers who help put the display together by working high on cherry picker trucks, scaling the rungs of the scaffolding, cleaning up, hanging decorations and testing the lights.

Making a difference, rain or shine

As a Lights of Hope volunteer for 12 years and Chair of its Logistics Committee, Hamming plays a key role in trying to find solutions for any issues that come up with the display. Some of those issues arise in the months leading up to the Lights of Hope campaign, such as figuring out how to make the best use of materials that are sometimes unexpectedly donated to the display, like miles of red light from a supplier in Hong Kong. Others arise on the day of set-up, with perhaps the most challenging being the weather.

“The worst day we’ve had was barely above zero degrees. It was just warm enough that the snow is rain; you were so cold your hands were blue and you can’t stay warm because you’re wet,” Hamming recalls. “But I think we’ve only had one year where we didn’t have rain on the day of, so when the weather gets bad, we just have a little more coffee, laugh a little more and say, ‘Here we are again.’”

Reach for the stars and help St. Paul’s shine

Luckily, this year’s set-up day featured chilly temperatures but clear skies. But regardless of the weather, Hamming and his fellow volunteers enjoy contributing their time and skills to the Lights of Hope because they know they are doing something constructive for both the city landscape and the community.

“When I call someone and say, ‘we need some help from you Saturday morning,’ it’s compelling to tell them we are supporting the hospital. Our role is to put up this display so that people will donate to get a place on this space. Then volunteering really becomes an opportunity to make a difference.”

The 2011 Lights of Hope campaign has a goal to raise $1.9 million for St. Paul’s greatest needs. If you would like to reach for the stars and help St. Paul’s shine, please make a donation to the 2011 Lights of Hope campaign by visiting www.lightsofhope.com or calling 604-662-4673 (HOPE).