Hays Night to Shine goes virtual with a drive-thru parade

BY ALICIA FEYERHERM
PHOTOS BY LAURYN BECKER

On January 29, The Tim Tebow Foundation, in coordination with Celebration Church, hosted the Night to Shine “Shine Thru”  Parade. 

Community members held signs and cheered while individuals with Intellectual Developmental Disabilities (IDD) drove by in decorated vehicles. 

Traditionally, Night to Shine is a prom event with music and dancing, but due to COVID-19 concerns, the event was moved virtually for the second year in a row. 

“Because this event is an international event and sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation, we have to follow exactly what they want and they came out and said that we had to do a virtual event again,” Addie Roth, a member of the Night to Shine Leadership Board, said. 

With it being a virtual event, planning looked a little different than typical years. 

“This year, since we did the parade, it’s a little more planning around the weather, planning around getting more of the community involved,” Leadership Board member Macyn Decker said. “We have to fill out different forms and things to get the sponsorship and to get donations from different businesses. 

Additionally, the parade requires fewer volunteers. In a typical year, about 250 volunteers attend, but with the modified format, only 50 volunteers were needed. 

While the volunteer force may have been smaller, the planning was still rigorous and took place over a six-month period. 

“We start meeting normally once or twice a month in August and then from August on into January,” Decker said. “In January we start meeting more than two or three times a week to try and get things together as much as we can before the actual event.”

The Leadership Board is composed of about 10 individuals who are passionate about and connected to the IDD community. 

For Roth, her inspiration for joining the board was her two brothers who both have Intellectual Developmental Disabilities.

“Once I saw Night to Shine and what it was I always said I wanted to get on the leadership team if I could,” Roth said. “If not, I was just going to volunteer every single year.”

This is Roth’s second year on the board. 

“My first year, I was a buddy and it was the best night of my life,” Roth said. “Just seeing the joy of my buddy was everything. He was very loud and seeing his excitement was amazing. “

Board member Clay Robinson agreed that the happiness of the participants is a huge motivator. 

“Seeing the smiles on people’s faces meant the most to me,” Robinson said. 

For Roth, the parade serves as a reminder of God’s love. 

“I hope they just know God’s love for them and know how much we love them and how much they actually do shine,” Roth said. 

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