LITTLE ROCK — When U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jason Craven bought his Cabot home, he always planned to decorate it with a Christmas light display. This season, it not only has 37,565 lights, but they are choreographed to 15 minutes of Christmas music.
What spurred his interest in creating such an elaborate lighting display was contained in a widely circulated e-mail.
“I got an e-mail at work of some other guy who did it, and I wanted to do it,” Craven said about the choreographed display depicted in the e-mail.
Craven’s creations are not just for his personal enjoyment; those who view the show may also give back.
With a donation box outside his home for charitable donations to Open Arms Shelter for children in Lonoke, Craven believes in taking care of children. The first week of the display, in addition to donations of toys, food and clothing, cash donations totaled about $400 for the shelter.
“I see Christmas as a thing for children, and I figured I would help them,” Craven said. “I’d rather pick a local charity because it seems like the smaller charities fall off the radar.”
Open Arms Shelter has provided emergencyshelter to more than 1,800 abused and neglected children since 1986. It’s a temporary home for children who are awaiting foster care, treatment facilities or placement with relatives. It also provides these children with education, rehabilitation, love, attention and discipline.
Craven began purchasing lights after Christmas last year, when they were on clearance, and he ended up with about 40,000 lights. Back in the summer, he began the construction of 10 Christmas trees, including one that stands 22 feet, 12 snowflakes and a star, which reaches 6 feet.
“The lights are computer controlled by 128 different outlets,” Craven said. “It took five hours to do 30 seconds of a song, and I have a 15-minute show.”
This totals 150 hours of computer programming time to make his lights dance to the music and doesn’t include thetime he spent shopping, building and setting up the display.
"We truly appreciate all the hard work, time and money that Jason and his family put into this project,” said Susan Bransford, Open Arms Shelter executive director. “With over 800 man-power hours to create, it reflects all the beauty and magic of Christmas.”
Craven is not only a husband and father, but he is also an aircraft maintenance crew chief stationed at Little Rock Air Force Base.
So what little spare time he has is spent working on his unique lighting display, not only for his and his family’s enjoyment, but for the community and charity as well.
Craven said he will chose a different local charity each year he does the display.
“We feel blessed to be a part of it and wish to thank the Craven family for reaching out to help abused and neglected children this holiday season,” Bransford said.
A few things the shelter needs are nonperishable food items, baby wipes, bleach, deodorant, Goodnights (medium and large), disinfectant spray, laundry detergent, wash cloths, pillows and toys.
The Craven Family Christmas Light Show music performances are from 5:30-10 p.m. Sunday through Thursdays and from 5:30-11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights at 503 Linda Lane in Cabot. Tune the radio to 90.9 FM for the musicand enjoy the show.
“On weekends, we get about 15 cars at one time,” Craven said. “Just pull over into the grass, which allows traffic to go by.”
For those who are unable towitness the glory of Craven’s light display, videos are also on YouTube; just type in midnight302.
- jbrosius@ arkansasonline.com
Three Rivers, Pages 57 on 12/10/2009