Brighton Center Toy Cleaning
December 8, 2007

Article in The Enquirer - Section B - Good Things Happening
on Sunday, 12/23/07

TOYS SPRUCED UP FOR SALE

Supplied with rubber gloves, warm soapy water and a bit of splashy fun, 16 members of the Charities Guild of Northern Kentucky, along with 12 of their children, cleaned toys to pristine form as they helped Brighton Center in Newport get ready for its annual toy sale.

Toys are donated to the center throughout the year. Once cleaned and prepped, the toys are made available during the center's annual toy sale, for children to purchase to give as gifts to family members. Nearly 175 children participated in Friday's sale.

"It allows those children to experience the joy of giving," said Jennifer Wellman, president of the Charities Guild of Northern Kentucky in a press release.

The Charities Guild is a nonprofit organization of 50 women whose focus is to improve the lives of children and families in the Northern Kentucky community. The group sponsors a variety of charitable fundraising events that began nearly 20 years ago with the Shoe Fund to purchase shoes for children in need.

Helen Brewster and Michelle Rummel of the Brighton Center and Cecily Fassler of Charities Guild coordinated this project on Dec. 8.

"Charities Guild members often work behind the scenes to raise money for local charities, but they also enjoy opportunities for hands-on involvement. Helping the Brighton Center with this project enables us to involve our families. We want to encourage our children to give back to the community and this can start at a very young age," Wellman said.

It was a fun time had by all!