ST. LOUIS — "It's small, but I think it's the small things that can really uplift a community," 14th Ward Alderman Rasheen Aldridge said.
Aldridge said he is excited about a new project to light up St. Louis neighborhoods in his ward.
"I also think it kind of brings some beautification to the neighborhoods," Aldridge said.
On Wednesday afternoon, nearly 50 volunteers with Ameren Missouri and St. Louis City SC players, Joakim Nilsson, Niko Giocchini and Aldridge will team up at DeSoto Park near 20th and Carr north of downtown St. Louis.
Once there, they will go door-to-door and pass out 500 free, LED light bulbs in the Carr Square neighborhood.
"These are gonna be bright lights. Your neighbors are gonna have them. The whole block's gonna be lit up," Aldridge said.
Aldridge said he hopes the porch lights giveaway will help keep the neighborhood safe and deter crime.
"When you're walking down the street, if you're going around the corner and you just see all these bright lights, it makes you feel a little bit safer," Aldridge said.
He said the energy-efficient light bulbs should help people save money on their electric bills as well.
"We may be passed the COVID-19 pandemic, but people are still struggling," Aldridge added.
The volunteers will also pass out free LED lights to people who live in the Hyde Park neighborhood in north St. Louis.
Residents said they think the distribution will be a win-win situation for them.
"I think it's just a good thing," a resident of the Carr Square neighborhood told 5 On Your Side.
"I think it will definitely help in regards to bringing more visibility to the community," Todd El, a resident, said.
A simple, community project the alderman and his team said they hope will go a long way.
The volunteers will distribute the free porch lights in the Carr Square and Hyde Park neighborhoods on Wednesday from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m.