UNE helps light up downtown Biddeford

On Sunday, Nov. 16, the University of New England joined with local non-profit Heart of Biddeford to help hang festive decorations in downtown Biddeford and spread holiday cheer.

This now annual volunteer effort started eight years ago when a local volunteer got in touch with various class presidents of different schools to ask them if they’d have any interest in giving back with volunteer work. Subsequently, UNE responded and Give Back, Get Lit was born.

Director of Student Resolution Anthony Montalbano said that since then, UNE has had an annual collaboration with Heart of Biddeford.

“It’s a great opportunity to get downtown,” said Montalbano.

Typically members of the sophomore class volunteer to hang the decorations up in the fall, while the juniors take them down in the spring.

“I think it’s a really good way to meet people and just get involved,” UNE senior and business major Tighe Archambault said, “Everyone here is really, really nice, so it’s fun to be a part of.

University of New England student Tighe Archambault hanging a decorative sphere in a tree. PHOTO BY ANGELINA KEIZER

Executive Director of Heart of Biddeford Delilah Poupore finds the opportunity to give back to the community valuable, and encourages students to get downtown more often as it helps them get familiar with the area and the people.

“Once you’re volunteering in your community, it makes it more approachable,” said Poupore. “So I think it’s a great way for students to get to know their community and also it’s great for their business community too.”

UNE students weren’t the only volunteers—Poupore said electrical technology students from Biddeford Center of Technology ventured downtown to help decorate many trees including the one in City Square.

The holiday decorations start at Mechanics Park, coming up to Main Street, ending at Elm Street. Every tree from the base up was wrapped in colorful lights with spheres hanging from the branches. This year, for the first time, the organizers are experimenting with battery operated lights and the spheres. In total, there are approximately 90 trees that have been decorated and will be lit up this coming weekend thanks to all the help from those who participated.

“There’s no way we could do this without UNE’s students and the High School students,” said Poupore. She continued with a genuine smile, “our goal is we want this to be a place that people feel welcome to come to, feel happy that they’re in, and feel a sense of community.”

Angelina Keizer is a student at University of New England and a UNE Community News Fellow.