Over 300 children will have presents under the tree this Christmas thanks to the dedicated volunteers of Union County Children's Charities.
Gina B. Gilbert, Tammie George, Brooke Simpson and Pam Tolbert serve as the leaders of the 501(c)3 nonprofit to organize the effort while Carol Pratt, Janet Holloway and friends shop and assemble the bags.
At least eight area churches gave away socks, toiletries, laundry detergent, books and paper products. Another church supplied hams, and the Family Resource Center contributed gift cards from a grant for teenage siblings.
Several businesses as well as the Union County High School Beta Club displayed “Angel Trees.”
Diane and Gary England collected toys from participants in the Thunder in the Park Cruise In. Santa Claus talked to children to get their Christmas wish list and give them a candy cane.
The community stepped up to donate more than $17,000 to fill those wish lists. The Maynardville Police Department directed traffic as over 40 volunteers from all parts of Union County distributed the toys outside the courthouse.