Lighting the lake, feeding our neighbors
Twenty one years ago, the Luminaria walk at Diamond Lake in Sun Lakes began with a simple idea.
“We were sitting around in 2004 at Christmas in my backyard,” said Judith Johnson, founder of the event. “My son said, ‘you ought to get some of your friends and just put luminaries around the lake. It would look so pretty.’”
At the time, there were only a handful of homes around the water. The goal was simple: neighbors wanted to connect. So five women gathered bags, sand and candles, paid for everything themselves and lined the lake with light.
It was meant to be small.
But by the third year, something unexpected happened. Visitors began handing them money at the gate. Others brought canned goods. One early year alone, they collected nearly 3,000 pounds of food and stored it in a garage.
The partnership with AZCEND had began.
“I definitely wanted something local,” Judith said. “There are a lot of food banks, but local was very important.” What started as a neighborhood holiday tradition has grown into one of the most meaningful annual food drives supporting AZCEND’s Food Bank and the neighbors we serve.
About seven years ago, Robyn and Stephen Moody stepped in to help lead the effort. Stephen brought years of experience planning major events. Robyn brought organization, energy and deep care for the community. Together with Judith and dozens of neighbors, they have helped the event grow while keeping its heart intact.
Today, the Luminaria weekend draws hundreds of people each night, with an estimated 800 to 1,000 visitors on Saturday alone. The lake glows with more than 1,000 luminaries. Every home along the water participates. Music fills the air. Families stroll together. Many return year after year.
“The luminary walk itself is magical,” said Robyn Moody. “Everyone who comes, especially the first time, they are just amazed.”
Behind the beauty is something even more meaningful.
In 2011, organizers raised $118 and collected 3,500 pounds of food. In 2025, the numbers grew to $9,332 and just under 9,000 pounds of food donated, and over 300 crates were filled this year alone. The donations from this single weekend are estimated to help provide approximately 30,000 meals for neighbors who don’t have enough food to eat.
And the giving does not stop after the weekend. Food collection begins on Thanksgiving and continues through New Year’s Eve.
“We have people pull up with trucks from Costco or Sam’s Club and just unload food,” said Stephen Moody. “It just blows you away to see the generosity.”
Every can and every dollar matter. Through Arizona’s Charitable Tax Credit, individuals can give to AZCEND and receive a dollar-for-dollar credit on their state taxes, up to the allowable limits. That means you can support neighbors in need and reduce your tax burden at the same time. Monetary donations help AZCEND stretch it’s resources even further.
Yet, this story is not just about numbers.
“We have visited AZCEND and seen firsthand people picking up those boxes,” Robyn said. “It makes us feel very proud that we can help somebody not be hungry.”
Over the years, the partnership has grown stronger and expanded. AZCEND now sends trucks for collection and coordinates volunteers to help load donations.
“That means the world to us,” Judith said. “It’s become a real partnership.”
The heart of the Luminaria event is not just the lights. It is what neighbors can accomplish together.
This year, the glowing lake even became the backdrop for a wedding. A couple who had both lost their spouses chose to remarry during the Luminaria weekend, surrounded by light and community. It was a reminder that this tradition is about belonging as much as generosity.
You do not need to be a large organization to make a difference. You need a few committed people willing to start.
“Just do it,” Judith said when asked what advice she would give to others thinking about hosting a food drive. “You have to get started somewhere.”
She shared that it takes honesty and commitment. In the early years, organizers invested their own money to get started. Planning now begins in August. Volunteers fold hundreds of bags, place and light luminaries and clean up so thoroughly that by Monday morning you would never know thousands of people had gathered there.
It is not about recognition. It is about neighbors helping neighbors.
The need for food banks like AZCEND continues to grow. Rising costs and economic uncertainty mean more families are turning to the Food Bank each month.
“The need is so great,” Robyn reflected. “People want to give back.”
That spirit of generosity is what makes this event so powerful and what keeps it going year after year.
How the community can help
The strength of AZCEND’s Food Bank comes directly from community involvement. The Luminaria organizers remind us that every contribution makes a meaningful difference.
There are many ways to support hunger relief efforts throughout the year:
Volunteer your time: AZCEND relies on volunteers to sort food, assist with distribution, support deliveries and help with operations. Whether you can serve once a month or once a year, you can make a difference. Volunteer today
Host a food drive: Community groups, schools, businesses and neighborhoods can organize food drives that help keep shelves stocked all year long. As Judith shared, “Just do it. You have to get started somewhere.” Begin your food drive
Give through the Arizona Charitable Tax Credit: Financial gifts allow AZCEND to purchase essential food items and sustain year round programming. Arizona taxpayers may be eligible to receive a dollar-for-dollar credit on their state taxes when they give to AZCEND (QCO Code: 20491). Learn more
Share resources: If you or someone you know needs food assistance in the East Valley, AZCEND’s Food Bank is open. Get help
Together, we can continue providing help and hope for neighbors in need and ensure that everyone in our community is thriving.