The million holiday light removal

How many residents does it take to remove a million Christmas lights? The Festival of Lights Association is hoping at least 75 will step up to volunteer.

The holiday hangover may still be in full effect as people return to the daily grind, but FOL needs help to conclude its holiday festivities by removing the one million-plus white lights that still adorn Chandler Boulevard.

Residents of ages 12 and older are encouraged to volunteer for any amount of time they can and will receive community service hours if needed.

"In the past years, everyone has had a good time. You have the 70- and 80-year-old snow birds working with the high school students and it just shows that people enjoy working with others from the community," said Dixie Prosser, FOL admin director. "It's very non-committal, people can just come and go as they please, they do not have to work the whole day."

Prosser said a professional company puts up the lights in the two to three weeks prior to the holiday season and, in the past four years, it has only taken one day to take them all down.

The light collection will begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 10 at the intersection of Chandler Boulevard and 24th Street. Volunteers, who are asked to wear gloves, will continue down to Desert Foothills Parkway where they will get a free lunch at approximately 3 p.m. or whenever the work is completed, provided by the FOL. To find out more, visit www.FOLAZ.org.