Anyone wanting to provide direct help to a family during the Christmas season can choose one or more gift items from the Angel Tree set up by the Optimist Club in Knoxville.
The tree is on display at The Coffee Connection, located on Main Street across from the Courthouse; you can select a gift from the tree, purchase the item and return it to the coffee shop for delivery to the Optimists.
Craig Kelley from the Optimist Club says they work with IMPACT Community Action Partnership to locate families in need of assistance; and he tells KNIA/KRLS News the recipients usually ask not for frivolous gifts, but for items they really need.
“Yes, they do; and it’s kind of humbling because some of the things they ask for are pretty miniscule in a lot of cases. It might be personal care items, it might be a winter coat…it’s things they really need, it’s not luxury items they’re asking for.”
Gifts for the Angel Tree must be returned to The Coffee Connection by December 15th, for delivery by Christmas Day. Kelley says the Optimist Club also provides holiday meals for many of those being helped.
