KENTUCKY — We are just a couple of weeks away from the end of 2022, which means Britainy Beshear is about to wrap up her third year as first lady of the Commonwealth.

During this In Focus Kentucky segment, Beshear reflects on the success of her 2021 toy drive that benefited Western Kentucky families and kids and it shares how it sparked her 2022 toy drive for families affected by the historic and devastating, July 2022 Eastern Kentucky flooding event.

“When the tornadoes hit last December, I was trying to think like so many people, what can I do to help and I was walking, Winne, actually that night after the tornadoes and it occurred to me that with Christmas just around the corner, children needed a little Christmas cheer and parents needed a little extra help from Santa and so the idea of the toy drive took off in a way that I could not imagine. Close to 20,000 toys from around the world and seeing the kindness that people demonstrated. Unfortunately, it takes a tragedy to show us how connected we are. And I think that has been my most meaningful time in office, is seeing how connected we are to each other and really, how kind people are and listening to their stories,” explains Beshear.

You can watch the full In Focus Kentucky segment in the player above.