ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – An Escanaba teen is inviting the community to kick off the holiday season with him while supporting a good cause.
When he was only 6 years old, Carter McDonough started a now beloved community Christmas tradition in his own front yard. The inspiration struck him after attending the City of Escanaba’s tree lighting.
“I wanted to do my own tree lighting,” said Carter, who is now 14. “My dad said we should do it for Shop With a Cop to help younger kids who don’t have much to have a better Christmas.”
“The Delta County Sheriff’s Office, we take children from kindergarten and up,” explained James McDonough, Carter’s father and a member of the Sheriff’s Department. “They get sometimes it’s 150 to 200 dollars to purchase gifts for their family.”
It began with a small display.
“We had a spruce tree in the yard,” James recalled. “We just kind of strung up some lights.”
Now, the family sets up a 23-foot-tall pole, with lights cascading to the ground and a glowing snowflake on top.
“We put this up the first weekend of November,” said Carter. “It’s 17 strands and 1,600 lights maybe.”
The tree lighting has become a much larger event since its first year.
“Photos with Santa, the Grinch, hot chocolate, cookies,” said Carter.
“The volunteer fire departments bring Santa, drop him off in the fire trucks,” James said.
During the tree lighting, attendees are asked to make a donation to the Shop With a Cop program. Local businesses, like D&M Subs and Donut Connection, have sponsored the event throughout the years.
Last year, Carter’s Tree Lighting drew about 150 people and raised approximately $4,500. Since the inaugural lighting, Carter and his community have donated $10,000 to Shop With a Cop.
“The program is funded solely on donations from the community,” said James. “It’s just real nice to see Carter kind of spearhead this. He looks forward to it every year. My younger kids are actually asking when they get to take it over, but I don’t know if Carter will pass the torch just yet.”
“It feels really good,” Carter said. “It makes me feel proud that I’ve done something good for younger kids who don’t have much.”
The McDonough family invites the community to attend Carter’s 8th Annual Tree Lighting on Saturday, November 25. The Christmas tree will be lit at 6:30 p.m., but guests are encouraged to arrive a few minutes early to see Santa’s arrival.
Carter’s 8th Annual Tree Lighting will take place at 5017 View 17.5 Drive in Escanaba. Click here for more details about the event.
