Charity brings brightness to families

photo by JILL RUSSELL

THE VOLUNTEER STAFF OF BRIGHTENING 4 CHILDREN, DIANE BECKER, BILLIE LEITNER, CALEB BECKER, LYNDA LUCYK SHOW OFF THEIR BRIGHT SMILES. Front row: Alicia Becker (Diane Becker’s daughter) and Alex Lucyk (Lynda Lucyk’s grandson).

In a small portable on the corner of Milton’s Discovery Elementary School campus, volunteers are helping families find brightness in hard times. Racks of clothing are organized by size. Food is piled high and waiting to fill empty bellies. A woman with a smile waits to greet those who need a helping hand. Lynda Lucyk is just one of a team of volunteers for Brightening 4 Children, a local non-profit organization that provides assistance to families in need throughout Fife, Milton and Edgewood.

Lucyk said currently the group is looking for volunteers, which are always in short supply.

“We are short-handed, but a lot of people who do volunteer were families who also received assistance here,” Lucyk said.

She added that the office is open throughout the year, including summertime, something that many who rely on the organization do not know. Something else many people do not know is that the organization is comprised of two groups. Brightening 4 Children began 18 years ago, from an idea among local school nurses and counselors who saw a need in the district. The only service the organization provided was holiday baskets of food to families in need. When the former organizer decided to retire, Billie Leitner took the reigns for the organization. Leitner was already involved with a local organization called the Fife-Milton Family Resource Center. By then, Brightening 4 Children was a legally recognized non-profit charity. That is when the decision was made to combine Brightening 4 Children and the Fife-Milton Family Resource Center. The rest is history.

Since the merger, Brightening 4 Children has provided food, clothing and comfort for families throughout the three cities. Leitner said on average, the organization serves about 30 to 40 families a month, but added that they have seen an increase since the recession started.

“Some families come in after parents have been laid off,” Leitner said.

The organization has kept its holiday basket tradition alive, and usually serves about 90 families each year. The group also hosts a back to school drive, which provides school supplies to about 300 families every year. This year, the back to school drive will take place on August 26. Lucyk said that many children who attend the event are surprised by the amount of supplies they receive.

“You’ll get kids that look inside the backpacks and say, ‘Hey, there’s stuff in here,’ or say, ‘Wow, all that stuff is for me,’” Lucyk said. “It’s really kind of cute.”

Organizers say the biggest challenge for Brightening 4 Children has been getting the word out about its services. Lucyk said some employees of the school district do not even know the organization exists. To change this, the organization will have a booth at Milton Days this year. On August 14-15, families can visit the Brightening 4 Children booth for more information on receiving assistance or how to donate. Residents can also contact the organization’s office at (253) 517-1493 for more information on how to donate, volunteer or receive assistance. The office is open throughout the year on Wednesdays from 12:30 p.m.-3 p.m.

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