Blighted area gets holiday decorations

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - It's a neighborhood that has seen it's share of blight and neglect.

But today, thanks to some volunteers, one part of the queen city is basking in the holiday glow.

It may not be the best day to hang up holiday lights outside, but for these young western New Yorkers, it's the perfect day to spread some cheer to the often neglected neighborhood of Seneca Babcock.

Joe Malczewski is from the "B" Team. It's a group of western New York volunteers who come up with creative community based projects.

"We're trying to attract attention to an area that may not necessarily be getting the attention they deserve," explained Malczewski.

They're decorating around 50 homes and businesses along Seneca Street.

Matt Carlucci of the "B" team said, "We've raised enough money to buy 60,000 lights and food for everybody. We're feeding the entire community."

Throughout the day, over 100 people are working, giving their time and energy to making this community a better place to live.

Art Robinson of the Seneca Babcock Community Block Club said, "You always hear the negative, but you never hear the good things, like the church here that helps so many families, or the community center where at a given night they'll be 40 to 50 kids in there."

And in a matter of a few hours, the street will be a-glow with the holiday spirit.

"The whole idea is the city of light and bringing back. If you've seen any of those pictures of the Pan American Exposition, Buffalo glowed," said Carlucci.

It may be a far cry from the lights of the Pan American Exposition, but these young Buffalonians have hopes that Buffalo will one day return to the splendor of it's past.

And this group of volunteers is hoping to accomplish that, one neighborhood at a time.

Robinson said, "This is to show people that we're not dead, we're alive and we're going to keep on going."