The Capital Region has no shortage of impressive Christmas light displays, and in the case of one in Rotterdam, it features an attraction beyond just lights synced with music that is helping to make a difference for one local organization.

The MacTurk girls, Grace, Brenna, and Harper, love bringing smiles to people's faces.

What You Need To Know

  • The MacTurk sisters are running their hot cocoa stand for the third year in a row across from the impressive "Lights on Crestwood" display in Rotterdam, raising money for Maddie's Mark Foundation

  • The hot cocoa stand is typically open Friday and Saturday nights from 5-7 p.m. once the light show begins

  • With COVID-19, the girls got creative this year, adding a QR code to their sign out front that brings visitors to a GoFundMe

  • Their goal this year is $2,100 and they will present a check to Maddie's Mark Foundation after the new year begins

"When we can give people hot chocolate, it's nice to watch them be able to enjoy the light show and have something to sip on," said Brenna MacTurk. "It's just a nice feeling."

But that's not all.

"It makes me happy that we can make other kids happy," Brenna MacTurk said.

Brenna isn't just talking about the kids who come to their hot cocoa stand. For the last three years, they've used the stand to raise money for Maddie's Mark Foundation.

"So we knew the Mustos [Maddie's family] because Grace was in the same grade as Maddie when they were in kindergarten," Brenna MacTurk said.

Maddie, who was just five at the time, was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor and given just days to live.

"Her family gave her best days ever so they could have memories with her and now her family is doing that for other kids that have terminal illnesses," Brenna MacTurk said.

When the MacTurks moved to their home on Crestwood a few years ago, they set up a lemonade stand in the summer and had visited the "Lights on Crestwood" show in years prior.

"So when we did the lemonade stand, it just gave us the idea and it went together perfectly," Brenna MacTurk said.

So every Friday and Saturday night while the show is going on starting at 5 p.m., the girls set up their stand with several gallons of cocoa and mini marshmallows. They even have a few extra nights planned heading into Christmas and New Year's.

"New Year's Eve Christmas Day and Christmas Eve we're out here and sometimes if it's super busy we'll stay out a little after 7," Brenna MacTurk said.

One Friday night this year, the girls raised $360, asking for just a one-dollar donation for their cocoa. But sometimes, people give whatever they can and leave an impact on them.

"It was really sweet because these two little kids gave us a bag of their change and we learned it was from a car wash they did and they donated it all to us," said Grace MacTurk.

"It was like twenty-something dollars," Brenna MacTurk said.

"Twenty-seven," Grace MacTurk said.

"Twenty-seven dollars and change," Brenna MacTurk said.

"That's a lot in kids money!" Grace MacTurk said.

"And I imagine they didn't have 27 cups of cocoa?" Spectrum News reporter Erika Leigh asked.

"They didn't have any," the girls said.

They're grateful for every donation they get, helping to help other kids be kids for as long they can, so they've got multiple ways to donate if you can't get to the stand.

"If you scan that with your phone it takes you right to the website and you can donate online," said Harper MacTurk.

"With COVID we knew some people might not want to come in person, so we had the idea to make a website and a way to get it out to people was to put it right there, so it's been actually working a lot," Brenna MacTurk said.

"Chief marketing officer" Harper makes sure everyone who stops by has their own copy of the QR code. She hands out cards with more information about the stand and Maddie's Mark.

"It doesn't really matter to us like how much because it's still a donation and it'll still add to our totals," Brenna MacTurk said.

And no matter what the dollar amount they receive, you can visit the hot cocoa stand for charity on Friday and Saturday nights from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Crestwood Drive in Rotterdam, near the intersection of Crestwood and Puritan Drives. There is a large sign out front and the light show is diagonally across the street.

To donate online, click here.

To learn more about Maddie's Mark Foundation, click here. 

Due to the snow storm, the cart is closed this weekend, but the girls still plan to be open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. You can find updates on the Lights on Crestwood Facebook page.