Brighton Center is helping to relieve the burden on families during the holidays.
The organization holds two annual events that assist families with getting toys under their tree and a holiday meal on the table. Brighton Center’s used toy drive, which has been around since roughly 1969, and its holiday drive are opportunities for families to receive support and for the community to volunteer to make the events successful.
The used toy sale will be held on Dec. 7 at 10 a.m. at 741 Central Ave in Newport. The event is all about the kids. Children ages 2 to 12 can go in with their nickels, dimes and quarters and shop for gently used toys, including items as big as bicycles.
Adults are not allowed to shop. Children shop with a volunteer or Brighton Center staff member.
“It’s not about the money; it’s really about the kids, empowering the kids and families,” Brighton Center Community Resource Center DirectorEric Owsley said.
The used toy drive has hot chocolate, and Santa usually makes an appearance.
Brighton Center collects gently used toys until Wednesday, Nov. 27. They do not accept puzzles, board games or stuffed animals. All of the toys are cleaned and double-checked to ensure all the pieces are there. Brighton Center also puts batteries in if they are needed, and donations of batteries are also accepted.
Donations can be dropped off at 741 Central Ave. in Newport, where the event is being held.
“The money that we do raise, which is very minimal, goes straight back into the emergency system to be able to buy food and hygiene products to put back in the pantry,” Brighton Center Marketing and Communications Specialist Deana Sowders said.
The used toy drive is open to anyone in the region.
Another holiday service that Brighton Center offers: its holiday drive. From Dec. 16 through Dec. 20, families can get new toys through the organization’s Amazon wish list.
Companies can get involved with the holiday drive through a wish tree, which can be requested by emailing the Brighton Center; however, anyone can access the requested toys through the Amazon wish list. The items on the wish list are things that families have directly asked for.
The families receiving the items must be enrolled in Brighton Center programming. If someone is struggling and is not currently enrolled in a Brighton Center program, they can go to 799 Ann St. in Newport. Walk-in times are Monday, Tuesday or Thursday from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
“That financial shock during the holidays can have a ripple effect throughout the year for a family already struggling or trying to make strides and stabilizing,” Sowders said. “That is oftentimes a tipping point taking on this extra financial burden, so we don’t want that to happen.”
Last year, Brighton Center served 897 families during the holiday drive and 2,904 individuals with both toys and food. There were 342 adults (adult homes with no children) who received food.
Newport resident Desiree Bradley’s family was one of those who received help.
Initially from Erlanger, Bradley said she lives in Newport after spending nine months at the Ion Center, a no-cost shelter for individuals and families fleeing partner violence. Bradley is also in recovery, and while she stayed at the Ion Center, she enrolled in Brighton Center’s Center for Employment Training. That’s when she became connected to all of Brighton Center’s resources, including the holiday drive.
“In the Northern Kentucky area, there are a bunch of different families, and a lot of the families are affected by different things, as far as addiction, disability, financial status, and I just feel like kids should not have to be affected during the holiday season,” Bradley said. “Every child should have a fair shot at receiving things for Christmas.”
Bradley said one aspect of the program that she appreciates is that she gets to fill out a questionnaire based on what her kids want. Even if Brighton Center doesn’t receive exactly what is on her children’s wish lists, they still have toys separated by age.
“What I love about the program is that my kids aren’t going to know that it came from the Brighton center,” Bradley said.
Brighton Center also collects food donations for its holiday food distribution. Families receive items like ham, stuffing, corn muffins, mashed potatoes, green beans, corn, and cranberries. The most-needed food items are corn, cornbread, green beans, mashed potatoes and stuffing.
Those looking to get involved with the holiday drive can email holidaydrive@brightoncenter.com or call (859) 491-8303.
