Couple Makes Holiday Season Glow in Mesquite

By BOBBIE GREEN

The Progress

It was fourteen years ago that Debbie and Mike Benham decided to move to Mesquite from New Jersey. Since that time, this dynamic duo has had a tremendous impact on their community and the way it celebrates Christmas.

Mike is a legal immigrant from United Kingdom where he worked as a firefighter. He eventually came to the U.S. residing in Boston, and later Princeton, New Jersey. That is where he met Debbie Lasky. The two have been married for 40 years now.

Mike worked as a painter at the University of Princeton. Being an ex-firefighter, he volunteered with the New Egypt Fire Department and worked as Fire Police Captain. It was in that position where he first began volunteering to play Santa Claus at various events.

Meanwhile Debbie worked 35-years as an office manager for a pharmaceutical company. She joined in helping Mike in his alter-ego role during the holidays, becoming Mrs. Clause by his side.

It didn’t take long seeing the Christmas joy that was brought to the kids by their appearance, that the couple decided that these holiday roles would be an ongoing endeavor for the rest of their lives.
These roles have yielded some precious and even humorous experiences for the two.

Mike related one such experience which occurred in New Jersey. Every Christmas, the Fire Department there loaded Santa on the truck and drove around the neighborhood so that kids could visit with Santa. The Benhams, of course, played a major role in that visit.

One year Mike was sick and called on a friend to take his place. After the event, his friend called him the next day and said, “Don’t ever ask me to do that again. It was an awful experience! The kids did not like me and said I was a phony. They wanted to talk with the real Santa, the one with a British accent.”

Upon moving to Mesquite, the Benhams wanted to find a way to help in their newly adopted community.
“Many organizations do toys for the kids, but everyone needs food!” said Debbie.

Using as a model a food drive that they had organized in New Jersey, the Benhams went to the city and proposed organizing the Christmas Parade of Lights, with food items donated as the entry fee. The mayor at that time did not think it would work, Mike said. But he gave them the go-a-head to try.

That first year the event collected 1,000 pounds of food. Each year after that, the food donations have increased. Business and individuals; now made aware of the need for food for the needy through the Salvation Army and the food bank; gave donations.

“We cannot afford to give much ourselves,” Debbie said. “But we can give our time and energy. We try to make it easy for others to contribute. They can bring food to us or call for a pick-up, they can give me a check and I will shop for the food for them. Whatever it takes.”

The Benham’s announced this year that the Parade of Lights is now a 501c3 nonprofit organization as of June 12, 2023. All donations to Parade of Lights are tax deductible. All donations stay local and go to local food pantries to help those in need.

Mike and Debbie help with many events at Christmas time for charitable organizations. They have many times, both in New Jersey and in Nevada, shown up on a special occasion for a sick child. It’s obvious they love what they do.
“I will continue to do this as long as I am physically able,” Debbie said.

Mike expressed appreciation for all the help they had received from the local residents as well as the local police and fire departments.

This year the Benhams have collected 16,000 pounds of food. Their goal for the 2024 holiday season is 20,000 pounds.
“We are proud of what we do and are thrilled we had 37 entries in the light parade this year,” Debbie said.

“There is no amount of money that can replace the joy you receive when helping put a smile on a kids face and know you were able to help someone that needed food,” Mike added.