NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Holiday lights add a bit of color, brightness, and a festive feel to the season.
It takes a certain dedication for the masterminds to create these displays, including Alex Lute.
"I'm a sixth grade science teacher at J.T. Moore Middle School," Lute said.
In front of his home, he has about 20,000 lights, 800 blow molds, and close to 30 inflatables. Teaching, though, is Lute's day job. Come Christmas time, this is like a second job.
"Nights and weekends, we both work full-time jobs," said Janna Larimore, Lute's girlfriend, who also helped with the display.
"No I have never seen anything like it," said Carden Corts, a student who helped Lute put up the light display.
Check it out in the player above — we have drone footage of the display.
He started the display, including a scavenger hunt, in 2019. He has collected many of the blow molds since he was a kid. This display, though, has an even bigger meaning and purpose.
"It's hard to learn if you're hungry or if you don't have the proper clothing," he said.
"One great thing that this does, is it benefits kids that don't have food and clothes," Corts said.
As soon as you walk up, there's a spot to make a donation to the HERO Program in the Metro Nashville Public Schools. The program serves more than 3,000 students who may lack stable housing each year in the system.
"Anyone who you sit next to could not have a proper home," Larimore said.
There's a donation bin for clothes and even a QR code to donate money. The display is at 317 Harpeth Valley Road in Nashville. It will be taken down for the season beginning January 1. You can also learn more by finding them on Facebook.
Forrest Sanders recently introduced us to a Nashville hero named Eudora Boxley. She was the first black woman to have a cooking show on TV in Nashville. Her grandson was precious describing Eudora and how she raised him and how proud he and the family were of her impact not only on WLAC but on a city during the turbulent Civil Rights Era. A woman who did extraordinary things at a time when history did not expect her to.
-Amy Watson
