WELLS — In a few days, Wells resident Lyle Doerr-Rodriguez’s house will be decked out with 15,000 holiday lights, but his display is more than just one you drive by on Christmas Eve.
Now in his second year holding the multi-day event, Doerr-Rodriguez is using the opportunity to fundraise for small community food shelves and an animal shelter.
“We kind of really wanted to concentrate on the smaller communities that have food shelves that don’t get as many donations and that type of thing,” he said.
Doerr-Rodriguez will light up his house at 10 5th Ave. NW in Wells starting Thanksgiving night and will hold a fundraiser where people can drop off food and donations from Dec. 9-22 for the Kiester Food Pantry, Bricelyn Food Pantry and New Chances Humane Society.
“Adding the New Chances Humane Society this year, both myself and my husband are animal lovers. We have a cat of our own,” Doerr-Rodriguez said.
This year Doerr-Rodriguez is aiming big.
Last year’s display had 10,000 lights and raised about 250 pounds of food. This year, he’d like to raise at least 1,000 pounds.
Kiester Food Pantry volunteer Carol Soma said on average they help out between 10 to 15 households a week — they are open two Thursdays a month out of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church.
“Our food shelf in our church is not affiliated with any other agencies … so we are totally funded by donations and volunteers. That way we don’t have any restrictions either. We don’t ask people’s income. We’re just open to anybody,” she said.
Soma said their clients include single residents, senior citizens and young families.
She added she’s excited to hear about Doerr-Rodriguez’s plan to donate.
“There’s always more donations around the holidays, so that’s great that he’s doing that and sharing it with area communities. That’s really nice,” she said.
Donors can drop off items at the light display or at Powers Department Store at 147 S. Broadway.