Community House of Moorestown lights up Main Street

The Community House of Moorestown’s annual Main Street tree lighting and holiday celebration – presented by The Bank of Princeton – included vendors, dance groups, performances by the Moorestown High School Madrigals and high-school band and a visit from Santa.

Meteorologist Kathy Orr hosted the event, which was broadcast live on FOX 29 News Philadelphia.

“For 13 years, we have pulled off this event through the help of many, many people,” said Haynes Hendrickson, vice president of the Community House board of trustees.

Historically, the tree lighting’s festivities have included cookies donated by Wegmans and hot cocoa donated by Brandywine Senior Living, toy collections by Kennedy’s Cause and nonperishable food collections by MooreKids as well as music from the Philly Pops.

Groups who support the event include GEM Lighting; MoorArts; the Moorestown Garden Club; Moorestown Hardware; the Moorestown Jewish Association; the Moorestown Relief Engine Company; Moorestown’s DJ Blake; the township historical society; and Community House staff and board members, among others.

“Every year, we also have our friends from the Moorestown Jewish Association come and kick off what is a holiday celebration for them too,” Hendrickson explained.

Hanukkah is the Jewish, eight-day, wintertime festival of lights, celebrated with a nightly menorah lighting, special prayers and fried foods. Earlier this year, the association raised more than $6,000 – made possible by community contributions – for a new, 12-foot menorah also present at the tree lighting.

“We want to thank you, the Moorestown community,” said association board member Julia Goldstein. “It’s the only one of its kind in Camden and Burlington counties with LED flashing lights. We wish everyone a happy holiday and happy Hanukkah.”

The new executive director of Community House, Pam Henshall, was excited to be among the crowd. She was appointed by the facility’s board of trustees earlier this year.

“This is my first Moorestown tree lighting, and this is probably the most fabulous crowd I have ever seen in my entire life,” she noted.

For more on the tree lighting, visit the Community House social media sites. The facility is also conducting a county toy drive through Saturday. All new, unwrapped items can be placed in the gift box in the building’s lobby.