The streets of downtown Jim Thorpe were lit with love and support on Friday night.

Thanks to the efforts of Everything Nice Gift Shop owner Beth Beers and her group of volunteers, the park, Race Street and Broadway were lined with luminaries with heart cutouts as a show of community support for Tyler Kowatch, who underwent a mechanical heart transplant surgery at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia on Wednesday.

“It’s absolutely amazing. It’s been a very emotional week, but it’s also a happy one. He’s doing really well with his recovery, better than expected,” Melissa Kowatch, Tyler’s aunt, said.

Kowatch and Beers said that Tyler’s emergency surgery to address complications from hypoplastic left heart syndrome was completed in about six-and-a-half hours, and that it went very well.

Lehighton High School’s National Honor Society helped to prepare the luminaries for the night, and several volunteers came together to help set the spectacle up and keep it going.

“We have five members of our NHS, and then we have students of Marian and Jim Thorpe that are friends with the family, and we’re making sure they all stay lit in his honor,” Skylynn Faust, a member of Lehighton’s National Honor Society, said.

Visitors at Big Creek Winery and Stonekeep Meadery could enjoy their drinks even more knowing that 10 percent of the sales were going to Tyler and his family.

Those looking for a little philanthropy with their stress relief could visit Jim Thorpe Massage and Wellness, which offered massage services for donations.

The Jim Thorpe Tourism Agency held a special raffle for three hand-carved wood sculptures, with all proceeds benefiting Tyler and his family.

Plenty of other businesses contributed a portion of their sales or direct donations as well, including Everything Nice Gift Shop, Mauch Chunk Trust, Jim Thorpe Neighborhood Bank, Jim Thorpe Yoga, Nature’s Trail and many more.

Alicia Kline came out with her husband Kevin and sons Lucas and Landon to help show Tyler and his family that the whole town supports him.

“We’re behind him, and everybody’s cheering for him. It’s so moving to see all the businesses supporting Tyler and his family. To see people cheering for him, all the lights, and all these businesses behind them.

“Hopefully it puts a smile on their faces,” Kline said.

Local band Timplistic showed up to provide some tunes for the evening, with Tim Hunt handling guitar and vocals, Shelley Hunt on vocals, Dina Nehring on fiddle and Dee Dasher on flute.

Their classic folk hits carried throughout the area, adding a lovely score to the scene of the luminaries along the streets.

“It’s very, very cool, and it’s a lot of fun for a good cause,” Tim Hunt said.

With the wealth of financial contributions and shows of support of love, Tyler’s younger brother Will Bynon was touched as he walked along the streets and enjoyed the evening.

“I think it’s great to see the whole community come together,” he said.