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This past holiday season, downtown trees were covered in lights and many residents might have thought the town pays for them.
But in fact, Squire Road resident Lucille Murray raised funds and bought them in 2004 to cheer up Winchester’s children.
“My 10-year-old daughter Marie Camille died from cystic fibrosis and several children were killed in car accidents,” Murray says. “I decided to raise money through my ‘Lights of Love’ 501(c)(3) non-profit. People were very generous.”
The Cummings Foundation is the biggest donor, she explains, and she got a discount on the lights from Mahoney’s.
“Last year, all the lights dimmed,” she says, “and we had to replace the strings for $12,000. And we do the wreaths on the lampposts, too. Last year we had to bring them up to code by grounding them and that cost $20,000.”
The Public Works Department puts the decorations up and stores the wreaths after the season’s over.
Lucille raises money to support the “Lights of Love” through a holiday mailing every year and is most grateful for donations of any amount. All donations made out to the “Lights of Love” go completely to the “Lights of Love.”
Lucille says, “Without our resident donations and the support of the Cummings Foundation - Mahoney’s Rock Ledge Garden and the Winchester DPW - the Lights of Love would not be possible.” The Winchester Chamber of Commerce partnered with the “Lights of Love” in 2016 and the Chamber helps support the “Lights of Love.”
“Residents liked the look so much,” she says, “that the town keeps the lights up all year.”
And the Christmas trees and lights on the altar at St. Eulalia’s Church on Ridge Street are also a gift from Lucille and her husband Paul. They set them up each year, and this year The Rev. Valanarasu Newton-Williamraj helped.
“He said he’d love to do it if we told him what to do,” she says.
Pastoral Associate Louise Cocuzzo says, “We’re so grateful for Lucille’s generosity, a lovely way to beautify our church at Christmas time.”
Murray is also on the Board for an annual fundraiser for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
“The lights don’t have a cure,” she says, “that’s what our hospitals are looking for – but - for all children, lights give love and peace – and - for the families, this is a ‘mental cure’ that you can’t buy.”
