The holiday season is here, and this year, why not give back to your community by volunteering to help Knoxville seniors in need? From getting involved with an organization to donating warm winter clothing or food, there are plenty of ways to make a difference. Here are five ways you can help seniors have a merry and bright holiday.
Mobile Meals: Holiday Gifts for Homebound Seniors
Mobile Meals is a nonprofit meal delivery service in Knoxville and Knox County, TN working to combat food insecurity among homebound and isolated citizens aged 60 or older. This holiday season, the program is collecting gifts for seniors in our community. Please help us ensure those who live alone are not forgotten this holiday season by donating items to be included in Christmas morning deliveries.
Gifts can be delivered to the following locations from Monday, Nov. 28 – Friday, Dec. 9:
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- CAC Mobile Meals, 2247 Western Avenue – M-F 8:30 am-4:40 pm
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- Grayson Subaru, 8729 Kingston Pike – M-F 9 am-8 pm and Saturday 9 am-6 pm
Click here to view list of suggested items.
Interested in donating? Give a financial gift this season! Every contribution goes directly to providing food to seniors across Knox County. Click here to donate.
Interested in volunteering to help seniors? View opportunities below:
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- Mobile Meals is looking for volunteers to fill shifts from Monday, Dec. 12-Thursday, Dec. 22 to help sort and organize gifts. Contact mobilemealsvols@cacnutrition.org or call 865-524-2786.
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- Mobile Meals is always looking for volunteers to help with meal delivery. Fill out the volunteer application and email it to mobilemealsvols@cacnutrition.org
Send Seniors Christmas Love
Send Senior Citizens Love, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for senior citizens worldwide, is spreading cheer this holiday season by partnering with the Pinnacle at Turkey Creek Shopping Center for their annual “All is Bright” event.
From Friday, Nov. 18 to Tuesday, Dec. 20, Send Senior Citizens Love will place gift tags throughout the shopping center for shoppers to collect. The tags will include a description of a local senior and list of requested gifts. On December 20, the organization will partner with Mercedes Benz of Knoxville and load two vans, Santa and Mrs. Claus, and elves to deliver gifts to nursing homes throughout East Tennessee.
Last year, Send Senior Citizens Love delivered over 1,350 gifts in nine different counties.
Love Kitchen
Founded in 1986 by twin sisters Hellen and Ellen, the Love Kitchen provides meals, clothing, and emergency food packages to homebound, homeless, and unemployed Knoxville citizens. The all-volunteer team serves 3,000 meals a week and delivers more than 80% of those meals to the elderly, disabled and homebound.
Donate your time this holiday season by delivering meals to those in need in the Greater Knox County and surrounding regions or donate food items.
View volunteer opportunities and get involved here.
View food items needed here.
The Salvation Army Angel Tree
The Salvation Army Angel Tree and Silver Bell programs help deliver the magic of Christmas to thousands of underprivileged children and seniors. Once a child or senior adult registers and is accepted as an angel, their Christmas wish list is shared online and in local stores on Angel Tree tags.
New and unopened gifts must be returned to the Salvation Army at 409 North Broadway by Wednesday, Dec. 7. All gifts will be distributed in mid-December.
Want to volunteer to help sort, organize and distribute gifts? Click here to sign up.
Interested in sponsoring a family this holiday season? Click here.
Senior Companion Program
Bring holiday cheer to seniors through the Knoxville-Knox County CAC’s Senior Companion Program. The program focuses on providing companionship and assistance to seniors who have difficulty with daily tasks, such as shopping and meal preparation. Adults over 55 can volunteer to help seniors and serve 15-40 hours per week. Volunteers receive a tax-free hourly stipend if their income qualifies them as eligible.
Ready to volunteer? Contact the Knoxville Office on Aging at 865-524-2786 or email knoxooa@knoxseniors.org.