Every night at exactly 8:30 p.m., the south-facing windows of the Sciences Library in Providence light up to form a brilliant, glowing smiley face. On top of the library, a pair of LED lights twinkle for a minute, and patients at Hasbro Children’s Hospital across the river respond with their own flashlights. This display is part of the larger ritual known as the “Good Night Lights” tradition.

In this beautiful ritual, buildings and businesses across Downtown and the East Side of Providence flash their lights to send comforting goodnight messages to the hospitalized children in South Providence.

From a Single Flashlight to a Community Phenomenon

The tradition began more than a decade ago with Steve Brosnihan, the hospital’s resident cartoonist. In 2010, he started flashing a handheld flashlight toward the hospital on his commute to say goodnight to a patient he often visited, symbolizing that he remained connected even when outside the hospital walls.

What started as a personal gesture for one child soon became a nightly ritual for all hospital patients. In 2015, Brosnihan invited other buildings and businesses across Providence to join in, and the response was overwhelming. Today, dozens of structures participate, alongside individuals outside the hospital. Even boats passing through the harbor often join in, flashing lights or sounding horns in solidarity

Emotional Impact Across the River

The tradition has been widely embraced, eliciting genuine amusement from younger patients and deeply emotional responses from older children, their families, and the hospital staff. The Sciences Library was one of the first to join due to its prominent location on College Hill. Initially, security staff manually flashed lights from the tower, but the library later installed LED lights to automate the captivating display. The University continues to proudly support this humane initiative.

“Good Night Lights” is more than just a light show; it’s a profound testament to how small acts of care and community compassion can bring immense comfort and hope to those navigating difficult times.