Avon Business Owner Starts Porch Light Movement for Newtown

Sally Larsen, who owns Cuts for Peanuts in Avon, decided she couldn't just "sit and do nothing" after Friday's mass shooting at Newtown's Sandy Hook Elementary School.

That day, she started a Facebook event called "Turn Your Porch Light on for Newtown" and invited as many people as she could. The event has been shared around the world, and more than 8,700 people so far have clicked "Join" and agreed to keep their porch lights on to honor the 20 children and six staff members killed at the school that day.

"All they have to do is turn their light on outside," Larsen said. "Any light will do. Or light a candle. I have been leaving it on all the time. Many of the comments have been to leave them on until Christmas."

Larsen said she found herself crying after each young child came in to her salon for a haircut and wanted to make a gesture. The point of turning on the light, she said, is to "help guide their souls home, whether you believe it's here or in heaven."

Comments on the Facebook event page have started coming in from around the world.

Trudy Holder wrote: "Lights will be on in NC. God bless them and their families. My heart goes out to them."

Marisia Goode wrote: I'm shining a light for them in Stourport-on-Severn in England. God bless them."

JQ Aren said: "Lights on here in Collinsville, Oklahoma."

Larsen said she felt better when she turned on her own light and has been comforted by the response from others.

"I started getting people from all over the world responding," she said. "The kindness of others is truly amazing."

To join the event and read the comments, go to this link on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/events/309740575803015/