Helping Hands in Knoxville looks a bit like Santa’s workshop this week, as the charitable organization gets ready for its annual Christmas time giveaway on Saturday.
The items normally given away at their free store on Main Street have been put aside, and the tables and shelves are now stocked with toys, games, stuffed animals, holiday decorations and other things needed for the holiday season.
Chuck Galeazzi from Helping Hands tells KNIA/KRLS News he and his volunteers have been saving items all year long just for the annual event, and extra donations have been coming in.
“Last year in January the girls started saving the slightly used and new things; people would drop off new toys sometimes, and they put them away; so this is really special now,” Galeazzi says. “Helping Hands is really getting full with Christmas cheer with all the stuffed animals and little toys and everything.”
The store will open its doors beginning at 2 o’clock on Saturday, and anyone can take items for the holiday season while supplies last.
It will be a big day for Helping Hands; that morning, students from Knoxville High School will be holding their second annual benefit 5K run on behalf of the organization. The Winter Wonder Run starts at 9:00 a.m.; the goal is to raise at least $2,000.
