Noticed Some Pretty Lights Lying Around? That’s Gravesend Resident Jack Giambanco Trying To Cheer You Up

Giambanco distributes the lights at night. (Photo by Angelina Tala)
Giambanco distributes the lights at Washington Square Park in Manhattan. (Photo by Angelina Tala)

Back in October, we told you about Gravesend resident Jack Giambanco, who began his home-based business Friendship Lights to cheer up those who needed a light in their life.

Now he’s taking it to the streets.

Giambanco has been placing Friendship Lights on the floors of populated places in Brooklyn and Manhattan at night, with signs that read, “If you are lonely, sad, or missing someone special, please take this free Friendship Light.”

Giambanco says it feels great to see people smile when they come across Friendship Lights and has plans to take them further and continue putting smiles on people’s faces.

“I want everyone to experience the joy of Friendship Lights for themselves and share that joy with their friends and family, or just someone they come across who may be feeling down or in need of a friend,” he said.

Giambanco has so far placed around 300 Friendship Lights on the floors of Brooklyn and Manhattan for passersby to take with hopes to light up their nights.

“I feel like there’s an abundance of stories in the world right now that can make you lose faith in humanity and the things in the world that can restore your humanity are becoming less and less. But this was one of them, which I thought was really cool,” said NYU student Trevor Scott who came across a Friendship Light while passing along Washington Square Park.

“It’s just one of those things that really reminds you that there are good people in the world who are trying to bring a little light into the world,” he added.

A note attached to the lights explains their purpose to the people who find them. (Photo by Angelina Tala)
A note attached to the lights explains their purpose to the people who find them. (Photo by Angelina Tala)