Kids flash flashlights out of their windows at Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, and local law enforcement and community members respond by flashing their lights back.
Welcome to Project Night Lights.
And boy, does it bring smiles to the faces of patients, who feel the love with those flashing lights.
The first official edition of this special project will kick off at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 13. It will continue every second Wednesday of the month at 8:30 p.m.
Rallying community support is what this initiative is all about.
The initiative is a partnership between Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, Silent Observer, Kent County Sheriff’s Department, Grand Rapids Police Department, and other area law enforcement. The goal is to provide patients a little added encouragement from the community.
“Many of these kids are in the middle of one of the toughest battles of their lives,” said Officer JP Guerrero with the Grand Rapids Police Department. “It’s great to know that something this small can bring cheer and joy to a child.”
Officer Joy Matthews with the Kent County Sheriff’s Department agrees.
“It felt indescribable,” she said about a May test run of the initiative. “Even though we couldn’t see the kids from our cruisers, seeing the flashlights flash back at us made us all smile a lot.”
Her advice for kiddos in the hospital: Keep on fighting—for the next day, for your family, and for your friends.
As a special addition to this fun project, the sign atop Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital will blink on and off at 8:30 p.m. as a beacon to encourage people to join in by blinking their lights as well. If you’re in the neighborhood, bring a flashlight or flash your cell phone back at the hospital. The kids inside will be watching.
I can’t help but wonder if it will be dark enough, during the summer months, for the Night Lights to be seen.
What a GREAT idea!!!!!
Will there be any other media coverage letting people know about this? TV8, maybe? Shelley Irwin, WGVU/88.5FM
Hi Susan, We discussed the time/light issue ahead of time, and decided it was most important to do this early enough so more patients can participate before bed time. It will definitely be more visible in the fall and after the time change, though! As for media, my PR friend Rick Jensen assures me that we plan to have local TV here on June 13, and will be promoting this ahead of time as well. Keep an eye out for it, and we look forward to having you join us to wish the kiddos well! Cheers, Cheryl (Health Beat editor)
I LOVE THIS!! What a wonderful idea. Great to see the community cheering the kiddos along and showing their support.
Thanks, Christina! Come join us, if you can! 🙂
What a fantastic idea! I’m in👍🏻!
Hooray! See you there, Chris, with flashlight in hand! 🙂
What a wonderful idea. I just moved to Indianapolis, or I would be there with my great-grandkids.
I absolutely love this project, and will be sharing it with my family in GR so they can participate.
Thanks, this is something that goes beyond thoughts and prayers, it is action and feet on those prayers.
Wonderful. Thank you, Janice, for sharing this with your family and encouraging their participation! 🙂
Looking forward to coming out tonight. It is so great that people in the community and law enforcement set this up. May each child be reminded that they are cared about through the flashing of lights and that they can have strength to battle their illnesses.
Thank you for supporting the HDVCH kiddos! Hope you have a great time tonight and next month, too! 🙂
As an employee of Spectrum Health, this warms my heart… as the mother of a currently hospitalized child, my heart actually melted. Last night we were able to participate in the 2nd Project Night Lights event from her room on the 5th floor of HDVCH. The turnout was phenomenal! Her favorite part was when the people lining the street would copy her flashlight movements in the same pattern that she was doing. It gave me goosebumps to see the outpouring of community support for all of our kiddos in the hospital. A HUGE thank you from our family!
Where will the cruisers and other participants be parking? I would love to participate next month.
Where are the safe spots that community members can wave lights from?
What a simple way to bring the community together to let the wee ones know, they are in our thoughts and prayers.
Do you have a schedule in the coming winter months, especially if the weather isn’t cooperating. Or is it come rain or shine, snow or whatever.
I’ll try to remember next month…
Barb
Thanks for your interest in the program, Barb. I checked with Russ Hoekstra, Child Life manager, to see how long this is expected to continue. He said, “We just confirmed last night with our friends at Silent Observer that we will continue Project Night Lights well into 2019 and hopefully beyond. We both see the value of the program and look forward to seeing how it may continue to thrive.”
Where are the safe spots that community members can wave lights from? Where will the cruisers and other participants be parking?
Hi Christine. Thank you for your interest! Any sidewalks near the children’s hospital are appropriate, as well as the top of hospital parking ramps. Many folks hang out along the sidewalk near the traffic circle in front of Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital, or on top of the parking deck on the back of Butterworth Hospital near the emergency department. Generally, though, if you can see the hospital’s windows fairly well, the kiddos can see you. Hope to see you there!
Is there another one of these events scheduled for March?
Yes, and there will be light sabers! March 13th! Hope to see you there, Stephanie. 🙂
I participated for the first time tonight. This is wonderful! ❤️
Wonderful! Glad you could spread a bit of cheer to our HDVCH kiddos! May the force be with you, Cheri!