Miracle on Main coming Dec. 7
Zelienople’s largest charity event, Miracle on Main Street, is gearing up to provide Christmas cheer through free family activities and local charitable efforts.
Miracle on Main Street will be held in downtown Zelienople from 4 to 8 p.m. Dec. 7.
The free event will feature multiple activities including live reindeer and alpacas, a live Nativity, horse and carriage rides, cookie decorating with Mrs. Claus, Christmas tree lighting, Christmas caroling, a parade featuring the Seneca Valley Marching Band, a visit from Santa and more.
“The businesses are so supportive and so generous,” Miracle on Main event director Donna Zeigler said. “Their support as they give their donation or sponsorship is what makes this entire event free. So people who have three or four children, they’re not paying an arm and a leg to be here; they’re able to come for free and enjoy the spirit of Christmas.”
In addition to the seasonal festivities at the event, there will be multiple opportunities for the public to donate to charitable causes or benefit from them.
According to Zeigler, there will be three tents set up during the event. One is to donate new or like-new children’s coats, gloves, mittens, scarves and socks for children and teenagers for a program called Tot to Teen. The second is a prayer tent, and the third is where nonperishable food items can be donated to the Southwest Butler County Food Cupboard.
Additionally, there will be a collection of individual snack-sized food items for the Kids’ Weekend Backpack Program that benefits children in kindergarten through fifth grade in the Butler Area School District.
On the Miracle on Main’s website, there is a form to nominate a single mother in the Zelienople or Harmony area to win $500 to pay her rent or utility bills. That money is paid directly to the landlord or the utility company, said Megan Murphy, social media director and assistant director of the event.
According to Murphy, the main charity the event will support this year is In Toto Community Resource Center, located on Zelienople’s Main Street.
“They are an amazing resource center for people who are dealing with autism in their family,” Murphy said. “I spoke to them, and I was so amazed that this resource exists within our community, and I didn’t know anything about it.
“They are reaching out and targeting those children who are aging out of the school system and launching into adulthood because, as they told me, there’s really not that many resources for them at that level, so that’s where they step in and try to help people.”
According to In Toto’s website, their mission is to provide community-centered social support to those with increased risk of mental health struggles by helping them build confidence, create lasting connections and achieve personal growth. They aim to fill gaps in social services by creating an inclusive space that provides social opportunities, support groups, advocacy and resources.
In Toto will be open during the event for the public to tour the facility and will have a balloon artist on-site.
“People have been exceptionally giving and charitable; I think that the cause really resonates with a lot of people,” Murphy said.
Zeigler started the event seven years ago after a religious experience.
“It came from a vision from God,” Zeigler said. “I was in prayer, and I saw this bright light coming down Main Street and then the Lord started unfolding things. About two weeks after that my sister, she didn’t know anything (about my vision) and then saw a bright light going down Main Street (too).”
The event is held in conjunction with the Zelienople Area Business Association (ZABA), which is setting up and decorating the Christmas tree along with the Zelienople Rotary Club.
“It is such a different vibe here that you can feel the loving Christmas spirit wrapped around you,” Murphy said. “Everybody wants to be involved because it’s an event that is a feel-good event to help the children out, knowing that this is providing a night of Christmas spirit and Christmas fun for kids that otherwise might not get that and to be able to give back with proceeds to the charity is amazing.
“We couldn’t do it without the support of all of the businesses, and we’re grateful,” Murphy said. “Everybody plays a part in it and it’s really a wonderful event.”
