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Event to ‘Light up the Night’ with celebration, introspection
Following an inaugural event that was more successful than organizers could have imagined, the Ethan’s Legacy “Light Up the Night” event will be back this weekend.
At 5 p.m. on Saturday evening, volunteers, family members, recovery advocates and members of the community will gather at the Ames family farm near Fillmore to remember and celebrate the life and legacy of Ethan Ames, but it’s about a lot more than that.
Over the last year, Ethan’s Legacy — the nonprofit founded and spearheaded by Ashley Ames in honor of her late brother — has been establishing itself and growing in its quest to make Putnam County an even more supportive place for people affected by addiction, mental illness and suicide.
Light Up the Night, planned for October as it is near Ethan’s birthday, is a night of fun, introspection and connecting people with the resources they need.
Last year the event was later in the month and the wet, cold weather was none too cooperative. This on top of it being the inaugural event had Ashley doubting there would be much response.
“I truly didn’t think anyone was going to come,” Ames said. “It was me processing my grief, keeping my feet moving.”
Yet more than 300 people showed up at the farm at 4576 E. CR 75 North.
“To see our community show up in such a big way really blew me away,” Ames said. “I felt like people had really connected to the goal and making this community what we wanted it to be in terms of recovery, mental health and suicidal thoughts and behaviors.”
In hindsight, perhaps last year’s weather was a blessing, as a nice day and a bigger crowd would have been overwhelming.
“We had more people than we knew what to do with,” Ames said.
So, with an earlier date and a better forecast for Saturday, Ashley and the rest of the Ethan’s Legacy board and volunteers believe they are ready.
The event is free and, among the highlights, will be a professional fireworks display immediately preceded by a time of remembrance led by Pastor Steve Ailes of the Fillmore United Methodist Church.
“Even in the last year, I know a lot of people have lost someone,” Ames said. “It will be a time to remember in a more somber way. I hope that can be kind of healing.”
Other speakers will include local recovery advocates Sheila Holloway and Taren Proctor, both of whom have their own stories of recovery, as a family member and as a former addict, respectively.
The idea is that anyone in attendance who may be facing their own struggles can draw on the speakers’ experience, strength and hope.
Additionally, there will be various tools for mental, emotional and spiritual growth and support and encouragement.
From the family fun perspective, there will be a bounce house, “haunted” surprises, bonfires, hayrides, a climb-in corn pit, Chandler’s Farm and Country Market, a “crazy mile,” marble mining, straw mountain, pumpkin painting, cookie decorating and kids games.
Food will include a popcorn bar as well as barbecue from Wally’s Food Truck.
The evening will also be a chance to highlight the growth of the nonprofit over the last year. Spearheaded by Ashley as founder and president, the board of directors also features mom Regina Ames, Richel Geisse, Eric Rippy, Jolene Mattox and Jenna Rippy.
In the last year, they’ve found ways to grow Ethan’s Legacy, including partnering with Recovery Raw (founded by Eric Rippy) to host a booth at Greencastle First Friday events.
They’ve also begun preparing comfort boxes, which are filled with items the Ames family and others have found comforting in their times of need, and delivering them to hurting people in the community. Examples include chamomile and lavender tea along with a “You are not alone” mug, a candle, books on healing through grief and even a personal note with the phone number of Ashley and Gina.
Anyone interested in learning more may email wassup@ethanslegacy.org
Ashley said this idea was inspired by her experience after Ethan’s death, when Geisse came the next day and then sat with her for days on end as she grieved.
“It was the most meaningful thing that anyone could have done,” Ashley said.
The idea is to be that kind of friend and resource for people, or at least to connect them to someone who can be. That’s where https://ethanslegacy.org/ comes in. The website, as well as a presence on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, not only gives people a way to get involved, but also helps connect them to resources they might need when faces a crises of mental health or addiction at ethanslegacy.org/resources
“When you’re in crisis, you can’t stop and research this stuff,” Ashley said.
In the end, what the organization really wants to do is create the kind of community that will be a better place for young people — many of whom will inevitably face these sorts of issues.
In that vein, the next stop is trying to build a volunteer corps so the outreach can continue to grow. Those interested may visit ethanslegacy.org/volunteer.
As the website encourages: “All it takes is one little spark ... Be the spark.”