A new street in Waynesburg made its debut this year, right next to the Greene County courthouse. Officially, it is known as Church Street. But for a few short hours during Holiday Open House it became Candy Cane Lane.
Holiday Open House in Waynesburg is the first Friday in December and has everything an old-fashioned outdoor community celebration craves – burn barrels and wagon rides, music, food, movies, and children of all ages bundled up and hanging out with Santa and their friends. High Street is closed to traffic from late afternoon until 8 p.m. and the stores are open for holiday shopping as they’ve been for the last 90 years. What’s not to love about that?
Especially the bundled-up children part.
We have the elves of Candy Cane Lane to thank for that.
It was a week after Holiday Open House and the back meeting room of CASA of Greene County – Court Appointed Special Advocates – was still lined with racks of coats and rows of shoes and boots of every size. Gloves and hats spilled over the tables in the front conference room and director Aaron Houser was beaming. We were sitting in the middle room where the walls are Arizona sky blue, waiting for the clouds and cloud dream creatures that Waynesburg University art students will soon be painting on them. Here’s where kids can play and relax while their parents are across the street at the courthouse, meeting with lawyers, counselors and doing other court appointed tasks. For CASA and its volunteer advocates it’s all about the children, making sure the judge recognizes their needs and can act accordingly as cases go through the legal system.
This time of year staying bundled up is a priority for anyone. And this year, Houser and a host of other community service agencies were able to work together to offer winter wear to every kid who might need it, not just the children CASA advocates for.
“We’re now the Greene County Nonprofit Partnership,” Houser said. “United Way started it and we’ve been meeting to reduce duplicated services and steer businesses interested in donating or volunteering to the projects that suit their goals.”
Last year’s CASA winter shopping spree that Houser initiated at the office included hot cocoa for CASA kids newborn to age 18 during open house. Now it is a nonprofit and volunteer community project.
When Houser found out that vendors would be set up on Washington Street this year, Church Street became the place “where we nonprofits could be together and show the public what services are available to families.”
Calling it Candy Cane Lane was the brainchild of Tourism Director JoAnne Marshall and MaChal Forbes of United Way. On December 3, families wandered down a festive, twinkling Candy Cane Lane meeting the agencies and people who could help them and ending at CASA, where the winter wear was waiting. “It was very exciting for the kids to do their own shopping rather than be handed something already picked out for them. It was all donated new or gently used. The community was very generous.” Houser said. Clothing for children in Foster Care is the specialty for Loved Again Charities, that is also part of United Way’s new nonprofit partnership. Loved Again helped gather these essentials and will warehouse leftovers for instant access as new needs arise.
Festivities started on December 3 at 4 p.m. as the setting sun filled High street with its own scarlet light show. The sound of the Salvation Army bell was working its magic to draw people down Church street to put donations in the kettle as Miss Rain Day and Corner Cupboard Grinch posed for photos and kids searched for treats on every table.
CASA and United Way booths were close to High Street, brightly decorated and full of volunteers ready to let passersby know what was available on Candy Cane Lane and escort kids to CASA’s department store for their shopping sprees.
Cornerstone Care, a non-profit network of community health centers serving southwestern Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia, was there with information about its many services, including dental, medical, vision, pediatrics and behavioral health. For low income and underinsured families and individuals, sliding scale fees are available.
Santa and Mrs. Claus had yet to make their appearance but the Grinch was there to let people know food is always available for families in need. The big produce truck with its helping hands logo was parked half way down Candy Cane Lane and Cupboard director Candace Webster had a table of goodies to share along with information for families and those who wish to participate in this year’s Virtual Food Drive.
Tucked beside the pantry truck, DVSSP had a display of pamphlets that no one ever wants to need. But like every other service that is offered by the agencies that assist Greene County families and individuals in need, the services of Domestic Violence of Southwest Pennsylvania are confidential, free and can be accessed online at PeacefromDV.org.
