Unite by Light 2021 - December 5, 2021
Join us for Unite by Light 2021, a fully inclusive luminary event that unites an entire community for a single night of connection and joy.
“So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth.” – Baha’U’Llah
Uniting the community, bringing joy, and creating a brighter world.
The details of our 2021 Unite by Light event will be available soon!
On December 6, 2020, Simsbury CT was aglow by candlelight with the spirit of friendship, unity, and community! 2020 was an extraordinarily challenging year for so many reasons and we invited local businesses, faith and other community organizations, schools, and residents of every age to #UnitebyLight by lighting luminary candles beginning at 5:00 p.m. And we lit one mile along Hopmeadow St. with more than 1,000 luminaries for the Simsbury Unity Mile!
Single luminaries were provided free-of-charge to adults in Simsbury living communities and adults age 65+ living in their own home (up to 600 single luminaries) so that they, too, could join the community celebration and #UnitebyLight.
Individuals and families were invited to purchase 10-light luminary kits* for their residence for $20 and/or become a Family Sponsor with a $100 donation that provided 25 older adults with single luminaries so that they, too, could unite by light.
* Each purchase of a 10-light luminary kit supported the donation of a single luminary to an older adult and funded our intergenerational programs that reduce loneliness & isolation in Simsbury and neighboring communities.
COMING IN 2021: Be a part of bringing the 2021 Simsbury Unity Mile to life!
We need your help to bring this incredible event to town! Help us assemble and light more than 1,000 luminaries. People of any age can play a part in assembling; adults 18+ and high school seniors can light the luminaries. We also need help cleaning up the morning after.
Place and light luminaries along Hopmeadow St.: Dec. 5 (2-4 pm - loaders) (3-5 pm - lighters)
We need 4 volunteers to help us with the drive-through luminary pick-up. You'll be given an assignment for the drive-through route and some people will load boxes of luminaries into the cars of luminary lighters (2-4 pm). Please arrive at Boy Scout Hall at 2:00 pm to receive instructions and help us organize the boxes of luminaries. You'll be outside, so dress warm!
And we need 50 adults/high school seniors to help us light the luminaries (3-5 pm)! Families can participate with youth placing the luminaries and parents lighting them.
Update 12/4/20: We'll be doing a socially distanced, drive-through luminary pickup for the volunteer luminary lighters. You'll receive an email on Saturday with details and will be asked to drive into the First Church parking lot off of West St. at either 3:00 pm or 3:20 pm.
Please bring a long-handled grill lighter with you to light your luminaries!
First, we'll collect your volunteer agreement and photo release (please scroll down to print these 2 sheets of paper and bring the completed forms with you).
Then you'll be given a location assignment & safety vests. You'll pop your trunk and boxes of luminaries will be placed in your car.
You'll exit the parking lot onto Hopmeadow St., drive to your designated location, and place & light 20 luminaries with your own lighter.
Then you'll return your safety vests to us at Boy Scout Hall.
Please note that, if you intend to place 20 luminaries as a family, you should only sign up one adult in your family. If you sign up 2 people, you are agreeing to place 40 luminaries. If you sign up 3 people, you are agreeing to place 60 luminaries, etc.
***** Download, print, and bring signed volunteer agreement & photo release (see below) with you in order to volunteer.
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Clean up the luminaries: Dec. 6 (8-9 am)
We need 20 volunteers to help us clean up the morning after! Meet at Boy Scout Hall to receive your zone assignment and instructions. You'll drive to your assigned location and place a group of luminaries in a trash bag, then bring the bag back to Boy Scout Hall when finished.
Download, print, and bring signed volunteer agreement & photo release (see below) with you in order to volunteer.
Thank you, Simsbury!
All volunteers are required to download, print, and turn in the signed volunteer agreement & photo release when arriving at their scheduled volunteer time. Youth under the age of 18 must have parent/guardian sign. Thank you!
Sponsor the Simsbury Unity Mile
The Simsbury Unity Mile
With help from our friends and neighbors, we will place at least 1000 luminaries along downtown Hopmeadow St. as a Mile of Unity on the night of December 5, 2021. Are you a business, faith or other community organization, or individual or family looking to make a difference? We invite you to support the Simsbury Unity Mile with a sponsorship.
Sponsorship Opportunities
There are five sponsorship levels available. The Title Sponsor and Titanium Presenting Sponsors are available by invitation only. These sponsors will have their name and logo shown on the banner that will hang over Hopmeadow St.
The Platinum ($1000), Gold ($500), and Silver ($250) sponsors will have their names, logos and sponsorship levels on signs placed along the Simsbury Unity Mile.
Click on the button below to see the Platinum, Gold and Silver sponsorship opportunities. If you are interested in sponsoring this incredible 2021 event, contact Deb at deb.bibbins@forallages.org
Announcing our 2021 Sponsors (will be updated monthly)
Johnson Brunetti
Disability Planning Partners
Disability Planning Partners
Presenting Sponsor
Disability Planning Partners
Disability Planning Partners
Disability Planning Partners
Platinum Sponsor
We are grateful to our 2020 Platinum and Gold event sponsors
Fitzgerald's Foods
Vincent Funeral Homes
Vincent Funeral Homes
Platinum Sponsor
Vincent Funeral Homes
Vincent Funeral Homes
Vincent Funeral Homes
Platinum Sponsor
Johnson Brunetti
Vincent Funeral Homes
First Church of Christ Simsbury
Platinum Sponsor
First Church of Christ Simsbury
First Church of Christ Simsbury
First Church of Christ Simsbury
Gold Sponsor
Seshu Photography
First Church of Christ Simsbury
Seshu Photography
Gold Sponsor & Official Event Photographer
Curaleaf CT
First Church of Christ Simsbury
Seshu Photography
Gold Sponsor
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Our luminary kits are specially designed!
Our luminary kits are specially designed to offer youth and adults alike the opportunity be a part of this wonderful celebration of unity.
Folding paper boxes ground the luminary.
Folding paper boxes offer the opportunity to be decorated by the young - and the young at heart - before being placed inside the luminary bag.
The paper boxes can be filled with any solid substance to weight the luminary - single rocks, sand, or any other item conveniently available around the home - before being placed inside the paper bags.
For 2020, each kit of 10 luminaries includes an extra-special bag featuring snowflakes cut out in a random design.
Just like snowflakes themselves, no two bags are exactly alike!
(We are handcrafting the luminary bags and yours may differ from the one shown.)
All kits include flameless tea lights.
Safe, flameless, flickering LED tea lights rest on top of the paper boxes and complete the luminary.