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HOUSE BLESSINGS
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Almost 50 years ago the Cherry Grove House Blessings was created by Dominic DeSantis and a crew of other community members to help raise money for local organizations and it has gone on to become one of the most anticipated events of the summer.


In true Cherry Grove spirit, participants parade around the boardwalks in costumes to collect money and offer blessings to each house that makes a kind donation.


Groups like the Community Association, The Property Owners, The Dunes Fund, CGFD, The Arts Project, The Garden Club, CG4All, The Memorial Fund, The Archives Collection and others have benefited from the generosity shown with the donations given over the years on the annual House Blessings tour.


The merry crusaders can be heard singing, chanting and ringing bells as they stroll down the boardwalks. Homeowners rush out to pin their cash offerings on the pageant flag to receive their benediction- knowing their tributes are being used to improve aspects of our community and support the ongoing work of all our organizations.


Dominic loved the yearly event and would be so happy to know it continues on today.

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Listen to an audio clip from John Behan about the original group who started the House Blessings, beginning a tradition that has become an iconic Cherry Grove event . And how some of them continued to participate even when the long trek became too much for some of them.
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Bobbie Green driving Mae Bush on the Cherry Grove Fire Department vehicle for the annual House Blessing.
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Listen to an audio clip from John explaining how Dominic and the House Blessings crew were committed to raising as much money as possible for the various Cherry Grove community organizations, no matter what they had to do. With a spray bottle of “holy water” in hand, Mae Bush granted blessings.
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The church ladies of Cherry Grove’s annual House Blessings were well-known for their Jesus fans.
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Hear an audio clip from John Behan discussing the campy drag that the House Blessings event is known for. Taking something that many of us have grown up with and giving it a twist, the various representations of religious icons have been used to create a celebration in Cherry Grove that is all about community spirit.
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Over the years many community members have stepped-in to act as devotees of fundraising, to take the tour around Cherry Grove, going house to house and bestowing blessings.


The money raised is evenly distributed amongst each community organization that participates in the House Blessings event, which can be several hundred dollars for each of those groups.


Through the continued volunteerism and community support the House Blessings are still a great success!

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Dominic DeSantis (L) passed in 2019, he was one of the founders of the annual House Blessings. His partner of 50 years John Behan (R) gave an interviewed to the CGAC about their life in the Grove and this special event.