‘Tis the season of giving, but the holiday season is often the busiest season of all. If you’re looking to give back this month through volunteering time or donations, here are a few simple ways to help those in need in Knoxville.

1. Attend YPK Wreaths Across America Day

When: Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019

12:00 PM-1:00 PM

Where: Knoxville National Cemetery

            939 Tyson Street 

            Knoxville, TN, 37917

YPK members and friends are invited to help honor and remember our veterans this holiday season with National Wreaths Across America Day at Knoxville National Cemetery. Members will lay wreaths on the graves of local veterans while other Wreaths Across America ceremonies will simultaneously be taking place across the United States.

Register for this event here!

2. Bring a new toy or clothing to the YPK Tacky Sweater Party

YPK will be collecting new, unwrapped toys, gifts and clothing for children of all ages at the Tacky Sweater Party on Dec. 12. Donations will go to the Helen Ross McNabb Center’s Dear Santa program, which provides holiday gifts to children in Knoxville and across East Tennessee. More than 1,500 East Tennessee children and families received gifts and holiday parties last year thanks to the program.

Register for this event here!

3. Emerald Youth Christmas Store setup 

When: Dec. 9, 1- 4 PM 

Dec. 10, 9 AM - 12 PM, 1 - 5 PM

Dec. 11, 13- 9 AM -12 PM and 1-4 PM

Where: 1014 Heiskell Avenue

Knoxville, TN, 37917

Donate your time to the Emerald Youth Christmas Store this month and assist with pricing and sorting donations, decorating and setting up the store. The Emerald Youth Foundation expects to serve more than 300 Knoxville children and their families by providing parents the opportunity to purchase gifts at a discounted rate.  

4. Coats for the Cold

Help Knox Area Rescue Ministries (KARM) distribute coats to thousands in need in the Knoxville community. Opportunities to help are available at all KARM Stores locations. Volunteers are asked to sign up for shifts of a minimum of two hours at a time. 

Sign up here. 

5. Usher for the Clarence Brown Theatre’s A Christmas Carol

Knoxville’s Clarence Brown Theatre is asking members of the community to help welcome guests to showings of A Christmas Carol all month long! Ushers will direct guests to theaters, seating locations and restrooms, while also helping with ticket scanning and program distribution. Shifts will last the length of the performance, which is about 3.5 hours.

Sign up to usher a performance here. 

7. Sponsor a child through the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree Program

Head to a Walmart near you to sponsor a child for Christmas! Walmart works with the Salvation Army to distribute the names of children in need and what they want for Christmas. Members of the community can choose children to sponsor from Christmas trees labeled at the front of each store. Donations are then sent to the Salvation Army for distribution. Learn more: https://www.salvationarmyknoxville.org/christmas-assistance

8. Sort holiday clothing donations with Ladies of Charity of Knoxville

The Ladies Charity of Knoxville is seeking help this holiday season with sorting clothing for Knoxville’s homeless community. Clothing sorters will assist in picking out donated items as well as spreading holiday cheer during their shift!

Volunteer here.

Find more holiday volunteer opportunities at Volunteer East Tennessee.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Amanda Freuler is a Communications and Marketing Specialist with Oak Ridge Associated Univerisities (ORAU). She graduated from Middle Tennessee State University in 2017 and was eager to come home to the Knoxville area and reconnect with professionals her age. Amanda has been in YPK since the fall of 2018. When she's not writing and creating content, you can find her perusing local antique stores, exploring new Knoxville eateries with friends or planning her next vacation abroad.