Wheaton Infant Welfare selling luminarias

As the sun sets on Christmas Eve, Wheaton neighborhoods are transformed into wonderlands of soft, glowing candlelight flowing in unbroken chains in a long-standing tradition that helps care for disadvantaged children.

For 47 years, the Wheaton Chapter of the Auxiliary of the Infant Welfare Society of Chicago has sponsored the Christmas Eve luminaria display, which has evolved into an expression of community pride, unity and caring as residents join in "Lighting a Candle for a Child."

Proceeds from the sale of luminarias help the Infant Welfare Society bring the gift of good health to disadvantaged children.

Luminaria sets are sold through neighborhood coordinator volunteers who solicit orders from their neighbors in November and deliver luminaria sets in early December. Luminaria sets also can be purchased between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve at both Wheaton locations of Buikema's Ace Hardware, 1705 N. Main St. and 90 E. Loop Road, and at Carlson's TrueValue Hardware, 125 E. Front St.

A luminaria set includes five candles and five bags and sells for $5. Lumabases, reusable plastic bases that hold the candles, are available as a set of five for $10. As an alternative, sand, birdseed, kitty litter or potting soil also can be used to anchor candles in the bags.

The luminarias usually are spaced five to 10 feet apart along curbsides, driveways or sidewalks and lit at dusk on Christmas Eve. It is common for neighbors to light the luminarias of those who are away on Christmas Eve to keep the chain of light unbroken.

For information, visit wheatoninfantwelfare.org/luminaria-sale.html.