$9 Kits Keep Brandon's Luminaria Tradition Alive

The Brandon Lions Club is accepting orders for its annual Luminaria Project, a tradition that has run continuously since 2002. The club sells kits to residents, neighborhoods, and community groups who line walkways and driveways with white paper lights on Christmas Eve. This year, the initiative continues its role in supporting charitable causes while providing a festive display for the area.

Each kit costs $9 and contains 15 white paper bags, 15 long-burning votive candles, 15 candle cups, and a bag of sand to stabilize the bases. Residents can place orders until Sunday, November 15. Payment is not required at the time of ordering. All transactions are cash on delivery.

Pickup for all orders is scheduled for Saturday, December 19, at the Brandon Lions Club clubhouse on 610 Limona Rd. in Brandon. The club will deliver orders to participating neighborhoods only if the order totals 15 kits or more. Individuals interested in ordering should contact Joe Kuebler at 813-263-2522 or email [email protected].

Proceeds from the sales go to Brandon Lions Charities, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The group supports eyesight and hearing programs at the state and national levels. Locally, the organization funds Dogs Inc., ECHO, Family Promise, the Brandon High School Don Bishop Track Meet, Selah Freedom Inc., and other community needs.

Chartered in 1954, the Brandon Lions Club is the oldest community service organization in the area. While the national organization focuses on sight conservation and assisting those with vision loss, the Brandon club supports a wider variety of local programs. The club holds its regular meetings on the first and third Thursdays of each month at its clubhouse.

Dinner at the clubhouse begins at 6:15 p.m., followed by the meeting at 7 p.m. The Luminaria Project remains a central part of the club’s holiday activities, combining charitable fundraising with a visual tradition that has endured for more than 20 years. Residents can attend upcoming meetings or contact the club directly for more information on membership and activities.