Dear Santa provides holiday joy to thousands of children in East Tennessee
Thanks to the generosity of community sponsors, more than 2,000 children will receive holiday gifts through the McNabb Center’s Dear Santa program this year. Donors fulfill Christmas wish lists for children who are clients of the McNabb Center, and their siblings. The Dear Santa program is supported by businesses, organizations and individual donors who sponsor children, host toy drives and give their time through volunteerism.
“We live in a generous community and couldn’t continue this program without the support of donors willing to give their time and gifts to the Dear Santa program,” said Amy Fellhoelter, community relations coordinator. “It is typical for children in the program to ask for clothing and essentials besides toys. This takes the burden off of those parents who may be deciding between paying bills or giving their children a memorable holiday.”
On Tuesday, December 9th the Dear Santa’s annual Elf Shopping event will add another 200 wish lists to the wish lists already sponsored by community members. Volunteers and McNabb Center staff will shop for children’s wish lists at Target in Turkey Creek. Elf Shopping is funded by the Beth Haynes 12 Days of Christmas Auction through the Helen Ross McNabb Foundation.
The Dear Santa program serves approximately 2,500 clients in East Tennessee through sponsored wish lists, toy drives and holiday parties. To learn more about Dear Santa visit mcnabbfoundation.org/DearSanta. For additional information, please contact Amy Fellhoelter at (865) 637-9711 ext. 1155 or amy.fellhoelter@mcnabb.org.
The McNabb Center is the region’s leading nonprofit provider of mental health, substance use, social and victim services. Since 1948, the Center has proudly served individuals with the most needs and fewest resources. Today, the McNabb Center delivers support to more than 50,000 people throughout East Tennessee each year. For more information, visit www.mcnabbcenter.org or call 1-800-255-9711.
