ARKADELPHIA — In an effort to unify downtown businesses and area nonprofits, the city of Arkadelphia hosted the first-ever Be the Light event, with judging taking place Nov. 29.
“We were trying to get more lights and decorations in the downtown area,” said Claire Gehrki, owner of Knit Unto Others and a member of the Arkadelphia Downtown Network. “We were trying to figure out ways to inspire business folks to put more effort into their decorating.”
She said rather than trying to invest in commercial-grade lights, she was trying to envision something where all the businesses would come together to support nonprofits.
“Perhaps we could team the retailers with some nonprofits in town and have a contest,” Gehrki said. “The prizes would go toward the nonprofits that were matched with the businesses.
“Maybe then, that would motivate the downtown folks to participate and maybe do more than they had in the past.”
Thanks to money through private donations, Gehrki estimated that $7,500 was donated to various nonprofits.
“Every business that participated received $250 to go toward their nonprofit [of choice],” Gehrki said. “We had 24 businesses participate, and that included a number of businesses that had never decorated before.”
She said there are several nonprofits that operate businesses downtown, and they decorated and received funds. For example, Group Living — which assists adults with developmental disabilities — received $500 after winning Best Window Display.
“I was very excited by the participation,” Gehrki said.
The Arkadelphia Arts Center decorated its outside with handmade wooden Christmas trees and won Best Outdoor Display. The center’s winnings were donated to the Clark County Arts and Humanities Council.
Kris Gravett works as chair of the Arkadelphia Downtown Network, and she said the organization received a lot of positive feedback.
“Christmas is a season of giving and sharing,” Gravett said. “Our goal was to get people to visit downtown and to team up with nonprofits.
“It was a real cooperative spirit.”
Gehrki said it was an important and unifying event.
“It helped identify a large number of nonprofits, and it helped all of our downtown businesses,” Gehrki said. “We worked together to help support those organizations.”
On Nov. 30, Gehrki said, there was a big downtown event featuring award presentations, the movie The Polar Express, a children’s choir and an ugly-sweater contest.
“We just want to expand on it and build on it next year,” she said. “I think next year, we are going to have people walk through downtown and let them have a people’s vote.”
Gravett works at the Gossip Shop downtown, and it received $1,000 as the overall winner. The winnings were donated to the Humane Society of Clark County.
“It was so wonderful,” said Amanda Malcom Bell, director of the Humane Society. “Every bit we get goes into our animal care and maintenance repair.
“A thousand dollars is really an incredible amount.”
Bell said the Humane Society did not help the Gossip Shop with the decorations.
“They did it all themselves,” Bell said. “When I saw what they had done, I totally believed they were the ones that would win.
“They went above and beyond.”
“When they announced the winners, I just knew we were going to win,” Bell said. “They had just completely decked out their business for us.
“It was just wonderful.”
Bell, who has been the director for more than a year, said the Humane Society is just so lucky to be in a community that “wants to support us and help us.”
“Because we are a nonprofit, every time we receive a donation, it means the world to us,” Bell said.
Gravett said all the judges were from out of town. They rode in a truck around downtown to visit each business.
“Some wanted to know the details of the event because they wanted to bring it back to their town and do the same,” Gravett said.
Gehrki said the judges were really impressed.
“Everybody just outdid themselves,” she said. “The judges were amazed and wanted to come back to our community to shop.”
Bell said thanks in part to the donations and events like Be the Light, more animals are able to find their forever homes.
“We have been fortunate enough, with the support of the community, that we have been able to save 500 dogs this year,” Bell said. “For us, that is a huge win.”
Staff writer Sam Pierce can be reached at (501) 244-4314 or spierce@arkansasonline.com.