What started out as a little holiday fun turned into a life-changing philanthropic movement for a couple who call themselves The Griswolds of New Jersey.
Steve and Gina Harbaugh, of Mickleton, gifted a house to a homeless mom and her seven kids with the help of donations they raised from their 2020 Christmas light display.
Just a few months ago, in December last year, Noreen Owens and her seven kids, aged 6 to 18, were living across two rooms in a Mount Ephraim hotel for displaced families.
The Harbaughs, who have three kids, erect a massive “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” movie-themed light display outside their home every Christmas.
Over the years, word has spread via social media and donations pour in. A concurrent annual toy drive for underprivileged New Jersey kids exemplifies the holiday spirit of giving.
In 2020, the Harbaughs received over 12,000 toys. But the gift of a brand-new home for Noreen and her seven kids was the icing on the cake.
The Harbaughs have been working with All That’s Good since October. Searching for that “special someone,” a network of connections led to Noreen.
Vince Damiani is one of the two co-owners of All That’s Good. His sister, a teacher at Camden Prep Elementary School, was teaching Noreen’s 6-year-old child, Chaylese, and knew of the family’s plight. She and the school principal put Noreen’s name forward.
Yet prior to receiving her Christmas miracle, Noreen was also serving others. A longtime church volunteer, she was helping run two food programs and a Christmas event, Operation Warm Hugs, collecting teddy bears and blankets for children in need.
Noreen heard about the Harbaughs’ toy drive. Hoping for a collaboration, she messaged Steve on Facebook, with no idea that she was already on Steve’s radar.
All That’s Good crafted a reason for an interview, gleaning Noreen’s backstory while Steve, Gina, and the team prepared a family home for the big reveal. They even found time to contribute to Operation Warm Hugs in the process.
In her interview with All That’s Good, Noreen revealed that her husband left her for another woman after gambling their money away. She and her children were left to fend for themselves. They hit dire straits when they lost their home.
On Dec. 23 last year, Noreen and her kids were driven in a party bus to the new house under false pretenses: a “thank you lunch” for taking part in the interview. Yet, when handed a key in a gift-wrapped box, the penny dropped for Noreen.
Three months later, the deserving mom described herself as “still stunned.”
The Harbaughs plan to relocate their Christmas light display to a larger rural location for Christmas 2021. This time, the theme will be a German Christmas village.
Beyond pledging to help keep Noreen in her new home once the year is up, Steve also thinks this could be the start of a beautiful partnership. Noreen also has renewed hope for the future, claiming that if they work hard, the sky’s the limit for her kids.
“I’m gonna have a doctor, I’m gonna have a police officer, I’m gonna have a boxer, I’m gonna have an artist, I’m gonna have a Broadway star,” she says in the video.
