LISBON — Lights on the River, the organization responsible for the eponymous holiday event, has revealed the charities it plans to sponsor this year, including, for the first, time the Christian Fellowship Center’s Alms of Love pantry in Madrid.

President Scott A. Wilhelm said, “We want to have as big of an impact as we can.” Because of this goal, the charity has selected nine food pantries to donate to this year, one more than last year.

This year will be the third for Lights on the River, and already this year the charity has been able to bring in more than $16,000 for local food pantries.

“The food pantries are hurting right now and it’s even worse right after the holidays, where they’ve done everything they can do,” Mr. Wilhelm said. He said he hopes his charity will be able to assist these pantries power through once the holiday season is over.

The Lights on the River event is scheduled to take place from Dec. 15 to Dec. 23 at Lisbon Beach.

“Businesses and families and organizations are going to come in and work together to put on a show,” Mr. Wilhelm said of the event that includes dozens of holiday light displays.

“It’s free to drive through,” Mr. Wilhelm said, adding that donations of money or food for the pantries are always encouraged.

“Last year we had about 3,000 cars,” he said.

The charity is looking to get more people involved. Anyone interested in helping out or contributing a display should contact Mr. Wilhelm at 845-2657 or his wife, Stephanie, the charity’s secretary, at 393-1796.

Thousands of readers like you have made Northern New York Newspapers the number one ranked website* for local news and sports coverage in the north country.

You can continue on to this article in a few seconds, or you can visit one of our websites:

• Watertown Daily Times
• The Ogdensburg Journal
• Daily Courier-Observer