SALISBURY — Luminaries lit up the night sky creating a beautiful display around the lake at the Salisbury City Park, but also providing an opportunity to remember loved ones.
On Oct. 9, the Humane Society of Rowan County held its annual Lights of Love during which time people buy luminaries to “memorialize or honor friends, family and of course that means humans or animals,” said Jane Hartness, president and founding member of the organization.
She said they ask for a donation per luminary which are placed around the lake. There were 265 luminaries placed during the 2026 Lights of Love, which were lit at dusk on Friday and turned off at approximately 9 p.m., she said.
Hartness said to them it is a “very meaningful ceremony, and we think it is to those that participate also.”
The event has been held for approximately 30 years, initially in May; however, she said there was another event held at that time and they didn’t want it to conflict with another worthy cause. Therefore, they decided to change it to the second Friday in October, which she noted is in conjunction with the Feast of St. Francis.
As for the location, she said they hold the event around the lake “because it is the absolute most perfect setting. It’s just beautiful.”
A list is compiled of honorariums and memorials, which are placed on a table at the lake where people can see them.
Hartness noted that they don’t put the names on the bags because it could be dangerous for people to walk around and try to find names on bags in the dark.
There is no formal ceremony at the event, but it provides a chance for people to stand and look out over the lake and remember, she said, adding that some who don’t want to stop can just drive by and see the lights.
“We do have people who go by and return and say ‘hey what’s going on tonight’ because they aren’t familiar with it and that gives us a chance to explain” what the lights are about and who they are, said Hartness.
Regular supporters and friends will also drop by to say hi and look at the list, she said and others who at least drive by and wave to them.
“So it gives us a chance to see people out in the community and certainly to explain,” she said, noting that there have been some who didn’t know there was a local humane society and it provides them the opportunity to share the mission and message of the group with them.
The main goal of Lights of Love is the remembrance of those who are gone, said Hartness, whether family and friends or animals and the chance to recognize those loved ones.
But it also provides them the chance to share the message that they are a nonprofit, volunteer, animal welfare organization and tell the community what they do.
Volunteers for the annual Lights of Love as well as foster care homes are always welcome, said Hartness, noting that they do not operate a shelter but try to help people find homes for stray animals as they take in sick or injured stray and abandoned animals.
She said they wish they could but the group is not able to take in animals that people just want to surrender but do make suggestions to them about rescues.
The humane society has an active spay/neuter program, and she said, their “big message is spay and neuter saves lives,” adding that it helps to keep animals from having more and “that is saving lives.”
When the Humane Society of Rowan County takes in sick, injured or abandoned animals, which Hartness said they get quite a few of, the first thing is they go to a veterinarian and the money from the Lights of Love fundraiser goes into their general fund to cover the veterinarian expenses.
For additional information about the local humane society, their services, events and ways to help, visit their website at humanesocietyofrowancountync.org.
