Ridgeland Christmas-lights display to benefit fallen Burton firefighter's family
People have told Chelsea Brendlen they drive out of their way on their way home from work to wind through her family's four-acre property in Ridgeland, taking in the display of Christmas lights.
Almost soon as the leftover turkey is stashed in the fridge, the lights go up in what has become in annual tradition in the Jasper County town. In recent years, the family has used the display to raise money for a local family in need.
"People in the area look forward to it," Brendlen said. "They start asking us for it. That's kind of the reason we keep buying every year and adding to it."
This year the proceeds will go to the family of Stuart Hardy, the Burton firefighter and EMT who died in September. Hardy died Sept. 24 after suffering serious brain injury following a medical event while responding to a car crash 11 days earlier.
He left behind a wife and three daughters.
Brendlen is a former Jasper County dispatcher. Her daughter, Allison, is a volunteer firefighter and son, Johnny, a junior cadet with the Ridgeland Fire Department.
Helping the family of a fallen first responder made sense, Chelsea Brendlen said.
The Brendlens are accepting donations in a mailbox at the end of their lights route, and also are selling T-shirts. The red shirts bear a fire badge on the front and Hardy's name. On the back is a fire truck decked in Christmas lights, Santa Claus standing on top.
All proceeds will go to Hardy's family.
Hardy's sister, Jennifer Schwertfeger, read about the fundraiser on Facebook and called Brendlen last month.
"We have just been overwhelmed by the outreach and the kindness of the community," Schwertfeger said Friday from her home in Colorado. "It has honestly been helpful just to know how loved he was and to know the girls are going to grow up in that kind of community."
The lights are another in several fundraisers for Hardy's family, including a car wash, a fishing tournament and a chili cook-off. The display has raised at least $1,000 each year and close to $4,000 one year, Brendlen said.
The shirts came in this week, and there have already been 40 orders.
The decorations started like others, as lights on the house. New displays were added each year and now number about 90.
New this year are LED lights, a display with a reindeer in a truck running over Grandma, and a child falling from a snowman. A fire truck was already part of the display, and a police car has now joined it.
Brendlen estimates the family has spent more than $20,000 on the displays in almost 20 years. The electric bill rises only about $100 a month.
For Hardy's family, the gesture shows again how much he is loved, even by complete strangers, his sister said. It to befit Hardy, who befriended everyone.
While in high school just down the street from Schwertfeger's house, Hardy would stop in after school, often with a new group of faces.
"Everybody was welcome to be part of his group and part of his family," Schwertfeger said.
Details: Donations and proceeds from T-shirt sales will go to the family of Stuart Hardy, the Burton firefighter who died in September. For information or directions, call or text Chelsea Brendlen at 843-305-0141.Ridgeland Christmas-lights display to benefit fallen Burton firefighter's family
If you go
What: Brendlens' Lowcountry Christmas, a display of close to 90 displays and 100,000 lights
Where: 1570 Driggers Lane, Ridgeland
When: Now through at least Dec. 31
Follow reporter Stephen Fastenau at twitter.com/IPBG_Stephen.
Related content:
- Ridgeland Christmas display raises money for teenager with cancer, Dec. 20, 214
- PHOTOS: Lighting up the night in Ridgeland, Dec. 20, 2014
This story was originally published December 4, 2015 at 5:39 PM with the headline "Ridgeland Christmas-lights display to benefit fallen Burton firefighter's family."