MARYVILLE, Tenn — A group of students in Maryville worked to raise money and gather gifts to benefit a nonprofit that supports low-income families across Appalachia. On Monday, the Mission of Hope collected their gifts and prepared them to go under the Christmas trees of families across the area.
Every year, students at Montgomery Ridge Intermediate School participate in a teacher's class project to benefit the Mission of Hope. The nonprofit organizes an annual event over the holidays to collect donations of food, toys and hygiene products at locations across East Tennessee. The donations are then given to families and children at 29 rural Appalachian elementary schools
Students at Montgomery Ridge Intermediate School went to work on "Mission Unstoppable" during the holiday season, working odd jobs or doing extra chores to ultimately earn around $11,000. The money was used to buy toys for the Mission of Hope.
"This one toy, that came from one person's effort, gets in the hands of a child who may not have a Christmas. This may be their only toy," said David Heatherly, the executive director of the Mission of Hope.
People can continue supporting the Mission of Hope online, by donating to the nonprofit online or by volunteering to help.