LIGHThouse Leadership Society's 12 Hours of LIGHT/Day of Caring

September 19, 2016

The tragedy of the September 11th terrorist attacks forever shook our nation to its core.  Each year, thousands gather to honor those lost in the attacks by volunteering their time and spreading random acts of kindness – or “light” – all across our country. A few years ago, The Endicott College Office of Community Service joined forces with the College’s LIGHThouse Leadership Society to create the “12 Hours of LIGHT/Day of Caring” event, recruiting roughly 100 Endicott students to serve for 12 consecutive hours to honor and remember in the wake of our nation’s darkest day. 

The weekend of remembrance at Endicott began with nearly 100 student athletes putting in 2,977 flags on campus – one for each person lost the day of the attacks. On September 11, from 8:46 a.m., when the first plane struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center, until 8:46 p.m., Endicott College students volunteered and spread random acts of kindness in and around the local Beverly community. Programs ranged from preparing and serving breakfast to Beverly’s first responders, to passing out flowers at local places of worship, and handing out gift cards to strangers on the street to help pay for coffee and meals. Service programs that took place included park clean-ups and dinner service. The 12 Hours of LIGHT/Day of Caring event culminated with a candlelight vigil on the Beverly-Salem Bridge, where flags were waved, cheers were heard and a moment of silence rounded out the vigil.

Through it all, we never forget those lost, and we continue to spread light in the wake of darkness and tragedy.

To learn more about getting involved in LIGHThouse Leadership Society’s initiatives throughout the year, contact Lindsey Shrayer at lshrayer@endicott.edu.