Update 12/10/2019
Today, Dec. 10, is the last day of the Mission of Hope's traditional Blue Barrel campaign. By Dec. 6, the Mission of Hope's shelves were empty.
Volunteers are halfway through packing up donations of toys, clothes and non-perishable food and they are running out!
Drop off locations can be found at Food City, Chick-fil-A, TVA, Home Federal and several other locations throughout the community. Just drop off a toy at a blue barrel to donate.
Right now, gifts for boys and girls in 4th through 8th grade are the most needed.
The Cyber Barrel campaign, where you can make donations online, runs through Dec. 18.
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There's a new way to help one of East Tennessee's favorite charities.
Since 1996, the Mission of Hope (MOH) has delivered Christmas to needy families in rural Appalachian. Thousands of families and kids that live in poverty in East Tennessee and Southeast Kentucky get food, clothing, and presents to help brighten their holiday.
The traditional Blue Barrel campaign kicked off on Nov. 22, where you can drop off donations at Food City, Chick-fil-A, TVA, Home Federal and other locations. This year, you don't have to wait or even go to the store --- you can do it all online!
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The Mission of Hope has kicked off its first-ever Cyber Barrel Drive.
All you have to do is go to the MOH website and click on one of the participating retailers -- Walmart, Target, or Amazon. You'll be taken to an online registry where you pick and purchase your donation. They'll be sent directly to the MOH warehouse and packed up to be delivered to a family in need.
"We're already receiving those items and we love it. It gives people a chance to shop that just can't get out to do it," executive director Emmette Thompson said.
Of course, you can always donate financially to the campaign as well. The volunteers use those funds to buy any items they don't have enough of.
For more info call 865-584-7571