Dear Santa kicks off Dec. 3rd to benefit East Tennessee children

Beginning next week Helen Ross McNabb Center’s holiday elves will be ready to assist community sponsors and the general public who want to donate new toys and gifts to children served by the Center. The Dear Santa program, presented by Discovery, Inc., serves more than 2,200 children and families in East Tennessee through wish list sponsorships and toy drive donations.

Last year, more than 560 child clients of the Center, and their siblings, received gifts from Dear Santa’s toy drive donations. Individuals who are interested in contributing can bring new, unwrapped toys and gifts to Santa’s Workshop at the John Tarleton Gym (2455 Sutherland Ave., Knoxville, TN 37921). These gifts are provided to children who did not receive a wish list.

The workshop serves as a drop-off location for community partners who have purchased wish lists gifts or by sponsoring a child’s wish list. Items dropped off will be unloaded, sorted and distributed by volunteer elves, who will arrange delivery directly to the families. This year, 831 children’s wish lists will be filled because of the generosity of community donors.

“Our community donors and sponsors truly help us improve lives during the holiday season,” said Rebecca McKnight, public relations and communications coordinator. “These donated toys help ensure each child and family makes positive holiday memories.”

This year’s Dear Santa wish list drop-off and Santa’s Workshop will be Tuesday, Dec. 3 – Friday, Dec. 6.

If you are unable to drop off a gift, but would still like to make an impact for these children, you can donate to the Dear Santa program or utilize the Dear Santa Amazon Wish List.

To learn more about the Dear Santa Program and look for volunteer opportunities, please visit mcnabbcenter.org/Dear-Santa-Volunteers19.

The Helen Ross McNabb Center is a premier not‐for‐profit provider of behavioral health services in East Tennessee. Since 1948, the Center has provided quality and compassionate care to children, adults and families experiencing mental illness, addiction and social challenges. As the Center celebrates more than 70 years of providing services to communities in East Tennessee, its mission remains clear and simple; “Improving the lives of the people we serve.” For more information, visit www.mcnabbcenter.org or call 1-800‐255-9711.

Published November 27, 2019