Mount Pleasant Magazine Nov/Dec 2016

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Biggest Hearts
B ecause Jan clouse’s business
brings light to homes in the
Lowcountry and beyond, it’s only
fitting that she also makes life a little
brighter and a little more hopeful for
her neighbors in need.
Clouse, the owner of Carolina
Lanterns & Lighting, has been offering her clients a wide
range of indoor and outdoor light-
ing options since she launched her
business in 1999. She has shared her success with the East
Cooper community, providing financial support as well as
countless volunteer hours to help
local organizations ranging from
Camp Happy Days to the Red
Cross.
Clouse knows what it’s like to
struggle in the business world;
she started out selling copper
lanterns from the trunk of her
car. That’s one reason she’s all too
happy to respond to the needs of
her fellow Lowcountry residents.
“We have so many things
we’re blessed with. You have
to give back. You can’t always
take,” said Clouse.
She enjoys sharing the fruits of her success. For in-
stance, last year, she hired a Santa Claus to spend an
afternoon and evening at the Carolina Lanterns & Light-
ing location at the corner of Chuck Dawley Boulevard and
Bowman Road in Mount Pleasant. For a small or large
donation, people could have their picture taken with Old
St. Nick. Clients and other area residents brought their
children and pets by for a photo, and, in the process, raised
around $500 for an organization that works to improve
the lives of children with cancer and their families.
Camp Happy Days, headquartered in Charleston, has
helped more than 1,500 children from across the state of
South Carolina since its inception in 1982. In addition to
the camp, the organization offers family counseling and fi-
nancial assistance, holiday giving and other programs “that
help relieve worries and strengthen family bonds.”
Clouse said she plans to bring Santa back in December
this year to raise additional funds for this worthy cause.
Her philanthropy doesn’t stop there, however; she’s an
equal opportunity giver. Her business also donates lighting
products to Habitat for Humanity, which builds homes for
low-income families who participate in the process.
“We donate any time the Charleston Trident Home
Builder’s Association is involved,” Clouse pointed out.
“They just tell us what they need and what color.”
Clouse even spent a day help-
ing to build a home on Johns
Island. In addition, Carolina
Lanterns has provided lighting
products for “Extreme Makeover:
Home Edition,” the television
program that renovates homes
for families that have suffered a
recent or ongoing hardship.
One of her favorite ways to
give back to the East Cooper
community is working with the
Red Cross, especially helping
families that have lost all or part
of their home to a fire. She said it
costs around $1,250 to sponsor a family that has suffered
through such a loss, and Carolina Lanterns has helped
out by stepping up to the plate at least a couple of times.
Experienced in easing people’s pain, trained Red Cross vol-
unteers know that if your home burns to the ground, some
of the things you might need right away include prescrip-
tion medicine, eyeglasses, clothing and, of course, a place
to stay. For other necessary items, the Red Cross provides
families with a $500 Walmart gift card.
Clouse also participates in one of the Red Cross’ biggest
local fundraisers, a tour of Old Village homes.
“It’s for such a good cause,” she commented. “This is all
near and dear to my heart.”
Carolina lanterns & lighting
Making Lives a
Little Brighter
By BrIan SherMan
Photo courtesy of Carolina Lanterns & Lighting.
Jan Clouse hires a Santa Claus each year to appear at
Carolina Lanterns & Lighting to raise funds for Camp happy
Days.