Giant snowmen take over street in Montclair for the holidays to raise money for those in need
By Toni Yates
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MONTCLAIR, New Jersey (WABC) — Giant snowmen have taken over a street in Essex County, New Jersey for a charitable cause during the holiday season.
The inflatable snowmen drawing crowds and support from the community can be seen on Warren Place in Montclair. It’s a tradition that started two years ago.
“I had no idea that when I started it that it was going to become a snowman spectacle,” resident Ann McCarthy said.
McCarthy said the tradition started as something to cheer her up.
“I was feeling a little low, and I needed a little pick me up. I reached out to my neighbor and I said, how about we get these ridiculous 20-foot colossal snowmen, and she said OK, who would do that,” McCarthy said.
First, it was just a circle of friends, all next door neighbors, but then it became something bigger.
“And then somebody drove by and said, what are you guys doing? It was like we were leaving them out, and I said, all right, I’ll send a link to the whole block,” McCarthy recalled. “This is an amazing town and this is an amazing street.”
The display is arguably even more amazing when one drives down Warren Place at night.
This year, the neighbors got together again and decided the tradition could mean something even more special, and they did it.
“We’re raising money for Toni’s Kitchen, which is a really important facility for people with food insecurity,” McCarthy said.
Down the street and around the corner is the Toni’s Kitchen Food Pantry at St. Luke’s Church. It’s been helping families since 1982, and times right now are tough for so many.
“A lot of people who are using our pantry are people who are working full-time, working multiple jobs and just can’t quite make ends meet,” said Ann Mernin of Toni’s Kitchen Food Pantry.
Starting Wednesday, those who visit the snowman homes will also see QR code signs in the yards.
“So people can just point their phones at the QR code and make a donation right on the spot,” McCarthy said.
It’s the magic of the holidays spreading cheer and giving back to those in need in Montclair.
“This idea of connecting with such a wonderful part of our community and having it be a fundraiser is fantastic,” Mernin said.
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