NEWPORT, Ky. — Giving Tuesday was successful for a northern Kentucky non profit that’s trying to create opportunities for families to reach self-sufficiency.

What You Need To Know

  • Giving Tuesday has only grown since it started 12 years ago, generating more than $3.1 billion in charitable donations in 2022 alone

  • In recent years, Giving Tuesday has become increasingly important to the Brighton Center’s holiday drive

  • Through last year’s holiday drive, 2,904 individuals received holiday assistance including holiday food and gifts for kids thanks to 290 volunteers who gave their time

  • Brighton Center serves about 460 families a month through its emergency assistance programming

The Giving Tuesday movement aims to inspire giving to charities, following the spending many partake in on Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

The Brighton Center has been around since 1966, supporting families in need through 47 different programs. To do so, the center relies on community support. In recent years, Giving Tuesday has become increasingly important to the center’s holiday drive.

Community Resource Center Director Eric Owsley said through last year’s holiday drive, 2,904 individuals received holiday assistance, including holiday food and gifts for kids thanks to 290 volunteers who gave their time. 

“Each individual has inherent worth and dignity. So when families, when children leave our spaces and our programs, we always want them to feel that dignity and respect,” Owsley said.

Brighton Center serves about 460 families a month through its emergency assistance programming. Those families often have to make tough decisions when it comes to the holidays. When they come to the center, a lot of those worries are lifted.

“They come in and see all the great gifts. They can choose what they want and wrap it. And the children don’t know that it’s coming from Brighton Center. They think it’s coming from Santa Claus,” Owsley said.

Owsley, who’s been with Brighton Center for more than a decade and oversees the holiday drive, said it’s some of the most rewarding work he gets to do.

“It feels really good. Holiday drive is one of my favorite times of year. It’s a crazy time. We get a lot of donations. But it’s a very fun time for all of us in the organization to pitch in. Seeing kids with smiles on their faces, families tearing up because they don’t have to choose between rent or giving their kids a Christmas, it’s beautiful work,” Owsley said.

According to Forbes, Giving Tuesday has only grown since it started 12 years ago. It generated more than $3.1 billion in charitable donations in 2022 alone.

People can still help with Brighton Center’s holiday drive. An Amazon wishlist is available on the center’s website. People can also sign up to volunteer or make a monetary donation.

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