NORWICH – As Christmas creeps closer, the number of lights decorating area homes continues to grow, as does a need for giving to the less fortunate. Some local residents are hoping to attract donations with their decorative displays.

For the last six years, the Warner Road, Norwich home of Richard Lindner and Dr. Karen Banks has been surrounded with tens of thousands of Christmas lights during the holiday season.

With over 30,000 LED lights programmed to music, drivers can tune their radios to 94.9 FM to hear a transmission coming from the couple’s basement that broadcasts in intervals of over 10 minutes, creating a moving lights display to holiday melodies. The show runs repeatedly from about 5 to 9:30 p.m. every day.

The lights draw spectators and traffic, but also support for a good cause. The Lindner family puts out a large basket at the end of their driveway and collects food for the Emmanuel Episcopal Church’s pantry.

This marks the fourth year Lindner family has held the drive during their Christmas light extravaganza. Non-perishable canned goods can be deposited in a large wooden box, decorated as a present in front of the home. Last year, the Lindners collected about 3,000 pounds of food for the Emmanuel Episcopal food pantry.

Lindner says he gets draws inspiration to decorate from his two children, 7-year-old daughter Tyler and 4-year-old son William.