There are many charities in Northeast Tennessee, including Toys for Tots, that help less fortunate children during the holidays. There are churches that offer free meals to people in need, places that may offer free gifts to children, and holiday food baskets from food pantries. The most prominent organizations in Washington, Green, Carter and Sullivan County are listed below.
If families donate food to the church, they may be able to get a food basket with a turkey, meat, groceries, and more. Some charities, such as the Salvation Army, often have free Christmas gifts for children and senior citizens. Most of the toys come from donations from the community, including Angel Tree or Toys for Tots. This means that applications for holiday assistance programs will be accepted early, and that the programs will be first come, first served.
If a family does not qualify for a free Christmas present or meal, referrals may be given. There may be other charities in Sullivan and Washington Counties that can help.
They will also have a Christmas party for the kids with Santa. For the adults, they will have a Christmas banquet. Christmas and Thanksgiving food baskets as well as a Christmas party for kids with Santa are available at the food pantry of Central Baptist Church. Additionally, an adult Christmas banquet is also available. These can be given to charity clients for free.
There are three agencies in the Kingsport area that collect and distribute toys to children in need. The application process for colleges and universities will start in late September or early October and will continue for a few weeks. The program provides Marines with an opportunity to personally hand out gifts to children whose parents are deployed during the holiday season. This is one of the main Christmas assistance programs in the area because all of the items will be new.
The Higher Ground Baptist Church Care Ministries provides small holiday programs, mostly consisting of meals at Thanksgiving and Christmas.
The Salvation Army of Johnson and Easter Sullivan137 Martin Luther King Jr, BlvdBristol Tennessee 37620Telephone: (423) 764-6156 is the location where Toys for Tots is run from. This center provides services to Johnson County, Eastern Sullivan County, and Bristol City.
Crenshaw Blvd. The Salvation Army Family Store is a store that provides help and resources for families in need. Christmas help is for children that live in Unicoi County, Carter County, or Washington County.
The Salvation Army has a center located on Dale Street in Kingsport, Tennessee which provides both Angel Tree and Toys for Tots services to Sullivan and Hawkins County. Low income families may be eligible to receive toys, gifts, and other presents.
There are other Salvation Army holiday assistance programs in different parts of Tennessee. The charity also provides free gifts, Thanksgiving meals, and other assistance. To find a Salvation Army holiday assistance program in Tennessee, go to the Salvation Army website and type in “Tennessee” in the search bar.
If you live in Green County, you can apply for gifts for kids here.
Good Samaritan Ministries is a organization that provides food and toys to those in need, primarily during the holiday season. They are located on 100 N Roan Street in Johnson City, Tennessee and their phone number is 423-928-0288. This can be games, stocking stuffers, and other items for kids from from local families who are struggling to make ends meet.
The Haven of Rest Rescue Mission is a charity that provides food and gifts for children of homeless families. They are located at 624 Anderson St, Bristol, TN 37620 and can be reached at (423) 968-2011. There could be small toys, free clothes, and even Thanksgiving turkey meals served.
The mission of Hope House is to provide a safe and nurturing environment for low-income women who are expecting. Hope House offers a variety of services to meet the unique needs of each woman, including pregnancy and childbirth education, counseling, and financial assistance. People with disabilities can also learn about resources that are available to them throughout the year and during holidays.