Light show

While many families festively decorate their homes for the Christmas season, some in Southeast Missouri go above and beyond in their efforts. The Clark family of Kelso, Mo., is one such family.

The family started a tradition last year of decorating their home with 50,000 Christmas lights and synchronizing them to Christmas carols. The lights were a hit, and this year the family expanded the display to 80,000 lights.

The light show in itself is a nice gesture. Thousands of individuals have driven by the home to enjoy the show. But the impact the family is making goes beyond a Christmas light show.

The lights were so popular in 2009 that the family received some unexpected donations. So in 2010 the family set up a decorated mailbox for drivers to drop off donations for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. As of Christmas Eve, about $11,000 in donations had been collected for the hospital.

The Clarks are to be commended for ingenuity as well as their thoughtfulness. Those who generously donated are also to be thanked.

The kindness displayed by all parties is especially heart warming during the Christmas season. May the donations collected make 2011 an especially happy new year for those the funds will be used to help.