Delmont neighborhood fundraiser will continue through mid-January

Patrick Varine TribLive Sun, Jan 11, 2026 • 05:01 AM

Residents of Delmont’s Monticello neighborhood pose for a photo during their annual “Monticello Lights” fundraiser. Three collection bins remain up in the neighborhood to collect old, damaged or broken Christmas lights, which will be recycled by Michael Brothers with the proceeds going to Project Bundle Up. (Courtesy of Monticello Lights)

The annual Monticello Lights event in Delmont raised more than $12,000 for local charities.

Thousands of vehicles drove through the neighborhood in early December. Onlookers could vote for their favorite decorating scheme by making a donation to one of two local charities.

The fundraising efforts are expanding this month as the community shifts its focus to a seasonal recycling initiative.

Over the next few weeks, bins will be out in the neighborhood to collect broken or poorly functioning Christmas lights. The lights will be recycled, and proceeds from the recycling will go to Project Bundle Up, which receives a yearly donation from Monticello Lights.

“Michael Brothers Hauling collects and recycles the lights,” said Kelly Mazon of Delmont. “Last year we collected 377 pounds, and the year before we collected a little more than 200 pounds.”

This year, a heavy round of snow in mid-December put a damper on attendance during the Monticello Lights weekend, and donations were down a little from previous years. In early January, neighborhood residents got together to present checks for $6,253.25 to Project Bundle Up and the Delmont Police Department’s K-9 program.

“I’m so excited that we’ve been able to team up with Monticello Lights the past few years,” said Boyd Jones, Michael Brothers’ director of business development and public relations. “About six or seven years ago, we decided to find a way to give back, put in some sweat equity and do something meaningful.”

The result was the holiday lights recycling program. Broken, tangled or unwanted lights can be brought to any of Michael Brothers’ four locations in Adamsburg, Mt. Pleasant, Baldwin or Reserve, or they can bring them to one of three bins set up along the 500 block of Monticello Drive in Delmont.

“We’d love to see 500 pounds this year,” Mazon said. “We’re waiting to see how the weather goes and when people are able to take their lights down, but we’ll probably have the bins out until at least mid-January.”

Collection bins are accessible at 507, 543 and 576 Monticello Drive in Delmont, as well as at Michael Brothers locations in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties (see breakout box).

“We also have collection stands at a couple of regional Busy Beaver locations,” Jones said. “We process the lights, strip out the metal and the money we make from selling it goes directly to Project Bundle Up.”

Last year, Michael Brothers was presented with Project Bundle Up’s “Community Cares Award,” following a $9,784 donation through the program.

“Not to mention, we accept the lights year-round,” Jones said. “It’s a commodity that we pay out for, but if folks want to donate them, that money can go right to Project Bundle Up.”