Bright Christmas
Bright Christmas is a program hosted by a group of volunteers who distribute toys to children, whose parents might struggle in providing their children gifts for Christmas. Local schools assist in identifying those families that need assistance, but would not ask. This program was started by the late Jerry Bright in 2014, who had a heart and a laugh as big as Santa Claus.
On December 4, 2014, Jerry posted on his Facebook page the following “I have this idea, if I could get out at least 10 people on here to come together and find a single parent with 2 to 3 children that are not going to have Christmas because of the lack of money. We can put in $25 apiece and buy the kids gifts and someone donate a tree and some decorations. We could go as a group to their home and put up the tree for them. Is there anyone interested in doing this?“ To Jerry's surprise, he had enough donations to provide a little extra Christmas cheer 243 children that year. As big as Jerry was, this outpouring of love and money, overwhelmed Jerry, and he reached out to a few friends for help in the annual Brett Christmas was established. Now, each year, the families gather at a local church, who provides a meal, the pastor shares the reason for the season, Christmas carols, her son, and Santa shows up for a visit. The children are then giving gifts to open, and the joy truly begins.