farragutpress

Community

First Baptist Concord helps bring Christmas to children around the world

August 20, 2025 by Tammy Cheek

Children around the world are having a brighter Christmas because of the generosity of Operation Christmas Child, a Samaritan’s Purse project.

First Baptist Concord is one such group that is making and collecting shoeboxes filled with gifts for those children.

“They are involved very heavily,” said Sandy MacRae, Knoxville Area Church Relations coordinator and a member of First Baptist Concord for the past 10 years.

“In fact, we are a drop-off center for people bringing their shoeboxes during National Collection Week, Nov. 17-14.

“The Knox Area’s goal for this year is 40,001,” she said.

“This year, Operation Christmas Child hopes to collect enough shoebox gifts to reach another 12.6 million children with a gift box and the opportunity to hear the Good News for perhaps the very first time.

“Along with their gift box, the children receive a Bible story booklet titled, ‘The Greatest Gift,’ in their language,” McRae said. “We print these booklets in over 70 different languages.

“Anyone — individuals, church groups, business groups, school groups, whatever — can bring their filled shoeboxes to our church,” she said. “There is a designated area that the church has for this. They can bring them Monday through Monday.”

Calling aspiring writers

Farragut Parks & Rec seeks short story entries for new competition

August 20, 2025 by Tammy Cheek

Aspiring writers have an opportunity to demonstrate their talents in a short story.

In planning programs for its upcoming quarter, Farragut Parks and Recreation team is hosting a short story competition.

“Want to show off your writing skills, demonstrate how creative you are, or tell others what’s important to you?” asked Kalei Fisher, Town lead recreation and event attendant. “If so, you should submit a short story to the (Farragut) Community Center. All ages are encouraged to participate.”

Winning pieces will be displayed at the Farragut Community Center.

“All entries are due by Sunday, Nov.30, and I hope for them to be fully judged by Friday, Dec. 5,” she said.

Entrants are asked to submit their entry via recreation desk. If unable to visit the community center, e-mail the entry to parksandrecinfo@townoffarragut.org or drop-off a paper copy to the Community Center.

YMCA provides 91,914 meals to 1,074 children

August 20, 2025 by Rachel Totten

With 1 in 5 children living in food insecure households, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, summer can be a difficult time for families already struggling to put meals on the table. Fortunately, the YMCA of East Tennessee sought to address this shocking statistic by providing healthy meals to some of our region’s most underserved areas.

As part of the organization’s newly launched Summer Food Program, YMCA staff members and volunteers packed and delivered more than 9,000 meals each week for children across East Tennessee this summer, ensuring consistent breakfasts and lunches for every child participating in the initiative. Since May 31, the program provided 91,914 meals for 1,074 children.

“We know that food insecurity is a real struggle for many families, and that struggle intensifies in the summer,” explained Tonya Creed, the program’s director. “Kids that depend on school breakfast and lunch no longer have those options, and parents are then scrambling to feed three meals and snacks to kids all summer long.”

In rural communities such as Luttrell, Washburn and Rutledge, resources are especially limited, as it could take up to an hour just to reach a true grocery store. That’s why the Y stepped in to help fill these gaps, Creed said.