Stella's Circle lights up hope to promote charitable giving

A St. John's group that helps transform lives of struggling adults is hoping to remind people to give a little bit back this holiday season, by literally lighting up hope.

• Giving Tuesday sparks reminder to give year-round

Stella's Circle lit up a large sign spelling out "hope" outside one of its buildings at the Rawlins Cross intersection, as part of the Tuesday Giving event.

"The idea is that we light up hope and as people walk by and drive by during the Christmas season they'll think of the real reason for Christmas — the spirit of giving and hope," said Stella's Circle CEO Lisa Browne.

The Tuesday Giving event is a global day of giving, meant to promote charitable donations after the big Black Friday and Cyber Monday retail events.

"For some people it's a very difficult time and for other people it's a real time that they want to reach out and help, so Giving Tuesday allows people to help in a very easy fashion," said Browne.

Browne said the slogan for Stella's Circle is "hope lives here," and she is hoping this sign will remind people the holidays aren't just about shopping and gifts.

"Hope is really critical for people to feel. Without hope, you really don't have anything," she said.

"I think just by lighting it up, it's a really good sign for people to remember to have hope and never give up and always remember the spirit of the season and the whole concept of giving."

The mission of Stella's Circle is to "transform lives by offering real homes, real help, real work," said Browne. The group helps 1,000 people every year.

Browne said anyone looking to donate can do so online or in person. Donors may also use a new text-message method that will add a donation to a phone bill if they text "light up hope" to 20222.