As part of its 50th Anniversary Celebration this year, Brighton center has introduced a “50 Years, 50 Stories” series to highlight some of the customers, volunteers, donors, community partners or supporters who are part of its history.
The Northern Kentucky Tribune has partnered with Brighton Center to share some of those firsthand accounts with our readers.
In the coming weeks, the Trib will publish individual stories that demonstrate the breadth of services Brighton Center provides in Northern Kentucky.
Occasionally some slight edits may be made in the text and, to protect confidentiality, we might only provide the first name of the storyteller.
These testimonials, however, describe some of the programs and services Brighton Center has provided in its first 50 years, in the words of the people who have benefited from them.
“The cycle of giving that Brighton creates is an asset to our community,” Jay Kruz
The first time I got involved with Brighton Center was when our company, 94.9 Cincinnati’s Best Mix, volunteered to help restock the food pantry during a time of increased need.
I learned about the mission of self-sufficiency and that Brighton Center was more than just a food pantry. I asked “is there anything else I can do to help”, a short time later, I was asked to join the board and have proudly served for the last five years.
I am most impressed with the staff of Brighton Center. They truly care about the people they serve and so often, become personally invested in their lives. I love that Brighton Center is focused on the whole person, not just the problem they’re facing. The Center does a great job of meeting the temporary needs of a family, and then asking “what can we do to help you succeed long-term?”
The number of people the Center has helped in our community is impressive. The cycle of giving that Brighton creates is an asset to our community. We’ve watched people go through a program, become a success story, and so often the first thing they say is “I want to help others and give back.” It’s truly a beautiful thing.
Each time I witness the love and passion the staff and volunteers have for Brighton Center and the community as a whole, it makes me want to get more involved.
A memory that stands out the most for me is the first event that was catered by Center Table at Brighton Recovery Center (BRC), it was truly special. The delicious meal was great (really, the food is wonderful!) Learning that the women at BRC had prepared it using the skills they learned to better themselves and their family was awesome!
Being a “community of support” is more than just a slogan, its how the entire organization operates. My message to the rest of the community is to take a tour of one of the programs.
From its beginning in 1966 as a modest Newport storefront, Brighton Center has grown to provide a range of programs and services which include meeting basic needs, adult and early childhood education, workforce development, substance abuse recovery for women, affordable housing, financial education and counseling, and neighborhood based programs.
Last year Brighton Center impacted the lives of 60,892 individuals from infants to senior citizens through 37 programs in Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati
For more information about Brighton Center and its programs and services, or to become a volunteer, click here http://www.brightoncenter.com/
