Giving back – update!

Tennessee National was proud to host a table for the 2009 March of Dimes Chef’s Auction earlier this month. If you didn’t get a chance to participate in one of the many charitable events throughout Knoxville this year, there are still many ways to give back to your community and help the less fortunate.  Knoxville and the surrounding areas to have quite a few organizations that could use your help this holiday season (and really throughout the year). This has been a tough year for everyone, but there are small things you can do that would make a big difference in the life of someone this holiday season.

Here’s a list of a few of the organizations that are having galas, fundraisers, etc. this holiday season.

Round Up The Dough- benefiting the Love Kitchen through November 23rd, today! You can make donations at any Knoxville area Panera bread location. The Love Kitchen takes care of the five h’s which are the hungry, the homeless, the helpless, the hopeless, and the home bound. The Love Kitchen serves about 6,000 meals a week and while donations have stayed the same, the need has increased. Update -  A check for the Love Kitchen was handed over last week for $120,000! Way to go supporting this worthy cause East Tennessee!

Festival of Trees- benefiting the East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, November 25-29th.  All proceeds from admission ticket sales, children’s activities, designer sales and holiday shop sales benefit Children’s Hosptial. You can also visit The Giving Tree at the festival and purchase small items such as popsicals, diapers for premature infants, phone cards and more to show a child you care. You will receive a paper ornament to take home to put on your own tree to thank you for your contribution. The Festival of Trees Gala preview party is November 24th from 7-11pm, you could be one of the first to see the beautiful trees at this wonderful event!

Angel Trees- Visit The Angel Tree at Knoxville area Wal-Marts, West Town Mall & Knoxville Center Mall this holiday season and choose a needy child’s gift wish. The wishes, along with the child’s first name and age, are printed on Angel wish cards hung from a forest of trees. The children’s wishes include a variety of toys and clothing-dolls, games, red wagons, trucks, radios, warm coats, underwear, socks and shoes. Shoppers choose a particular child’s Angel wish card, purchase the gift requested, then return the gift to one of the many collection dro-offs. The Angel Tree where volunteers will process it and see that it gets packed on Santa’s sleigh for Christmas delivery to the child. If you are unable to shop for a gift yourself, but would like to contribute, donations are always gratefully accepted.

Empty Stocking Fund- started in 1912 and has been helping families in East Tennessee all those years. The 2009 ESF goal is to dispense 3,600 70- to 80-pound baskets for 10,000 underserved people. In addition to the 12-pound turkey, the food baskets will also contain a ham, as well as such staples as potatoes, rice and spaghetti – enough food to last a family of four for a week. Toys will also be included in the baskets. If you are in need of a basket, click here to see how to apply. If you would like to volunteer to help put baskets together or to donate, click here. The Empty Stocking Fund is sponsored by the Knoxville News Sentinel.

Toys for Tots - The mission of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is to collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year, and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to needy children in the community in which the campaign is conducted. You can drop off your new, unwrapped toys at Toy’s R Us and Babies R Us locations in Knoxville.

Are there any other charitiable events we’ve missed that you would like us to add to the list? Leave me a note in the comments and we will add any we’ve missed!