The Lamplighters Association Board, from left to right: Bob Eberly, Gary Ray, Joe Sullivan, Donna Wetzel, Jim Rothenberger, Anna Fulton, Jeff Doane, Pam Hagen, Sally Doane. Not pictured: Shirley Creehan
MMC’s Lamplighters Association
Ask a room full of Lamplighters what the group means, and the answers come quickly: “Loving others.” “Putting others first.” “Lighting the way.” Only later do the stories emerge…of yard sales, quiet acts of care, and neighbors helping neighbors…that show what those words really look like in action.
Since 1985, the Lamplighters Association has been a steady, resident-led presence at Moravian Manor Communities. What began as a group of volunteer fundraisers has grown into something more like a living network of care; one that evolves with the people who power it. Today, the Lamplighters are still unmistakably hands-on. As Board President Donna Wetzel describes it, they are a working board, not one that simply gathers around a table. “We function as a team,” she says, “pooling each of our gifts.”
That sense of shared purpose comes through in everything they do. Whether organizing the annual yard sale, running monthly food sales, or coordinating special events, there’s a rhythm to their work. It’s one built on effort, laughter and the quiet understanding that small actions add up over time.
“It’s hard work,” said member Sally Doane, thinking back on a recent yard sale. “And just so much fun.”
The Lamplighters raise funds that support benevolent care and enhance quality of life across the community, often in ways that aren’t immediately visible, but are deeply felt. Gary Ray describes it simply: “It fills the gap.” When something needed isn’t otherwise covered, the Lamplighters step in, sometimes with a purchase, sometimes with an idea, sometimes just with presence.
And presence matters.
At the boutique, the work is never just transactional. Gary remembers one woman who made her way slowly there with a walker, stopping to rest along the way. She bought a few pieces of clothing over the next hour, but what stayed with Gary wasn’t the sale. It was the conversation.
“I think she wanted to talk to somebody more than she wanted to buy,” he recalled.
At last year’s jewelry and accessories sale, residents from skilled nursing arrived with caregivers, taking their time to browse and visit. For some, simply being able to shop again – a familiar, everyday experience – brought a sense of normalcy and joy. For others, it was the conversation that mattered most, a reminder that even small interactions can brighten a day and strengthen the ties that make this community feel like home.
That human connection extends beyond campus, too. After the jewelry sale, a woman called on the phone, wishing she had purchased more. Without hesitation, Lamplighter Anna Fulton gathered the remaining pieces and laid them out on her dining room table so the woman could come shop privately. The gesture was practical, but also deeply personal.
“We will hustle for you,” Anna said, smiling.
That willingness to go the extra mile defines the group. It also keeps the energy high. Members use that word often, energized, to describe both the work and the people they work alongside. Whether it’s the rush of a packed sale day or the behind-the-scenes effort of sorting donations, there’s a shared sense that what they’re doing matters.
Sometimes, that impact comes into focus in a single moment.
For Jeff Doane, it happened when he saw residents interacting with the Mobii Table, a sensory projection system funded by the Lamplighters for use in memory care and other neighborhoods. He had seen demonstrations before, but this was different. Residents were engaged, moving their hands across the projected images, responding in real time.
“When we saw the fruits of our labor… then I was sold,” he said.
The experience of seeing impact rather than imagining it comes up again and again in conversations with Lamplighters. It’s one thing to talk about benevolence in the abstract. It’s another to recognize a neighbor being helped, or to realize, quietly, that one day you might be on the receiving end of that same care.
“Until it hits you…” Jeff reflected. “You might need that someday.”
That understanding deepens the meaning of the work. It’s not about charity at a distance; it’s about neighbors showing up for one another, in ways both visible and unseen. It’s about creating what Joe Sullivan called “peace of mind for people,” knowing support is there if and when it’s needed.
Over the years, the Lamplighters’ mission has continued to evolve. As residents age and needs shift, the Lamplighters adapt. They are finding new ways to serve, new ideas to pursue and new members to bring into the fold. Word of mouth remains one of their most powerful tools, even as awareness continues to grow. One conversation leads to another. One invitation becomes a new commitment.
Through it all, the heart of the group remains steady.
“We’re lighting the way,” Jim Rothenberger said.
It’s a fitting phrase. Not just for the funds raised or the projects completed, but for the example they set, one of compassion in action, teamwork without ego, and neighbors investing in one another’s quality of life.
More than four decades after its founding, the Lamplighters Association continues to shine not because of any single effort, but because of many efforts that are incremental, persistent and shared. Their legacy is built piece by piece, connection by connection.
And it’s still growing, one light at a time.
Interested in joining the Lamplighters Association or supporting their efforts? Contact Donna Wetzel at dhwetzel7@gmail.com.
— Read MMC’s complete 2025 Annual Impact Report on our Publications page (found below our Pursuits Community Lifestyle Magazine).