Knoxville residents are bringing the efforts of a Minnesota non-profit to south central Iowa. Jamie Ball, Jacee Wren, Matthew Johnson and Taryn Swartz are local captains of the organization Best Christmas Ever. Ball explains that the organization will help a local family that is unexpectedly experiencing tough times by gifting big ticket items such as a vacation, furnace, roof, or car, among others.
“Best Christmas Ever is based on helping families that have fallen to hard times at no fault of their own, things that were out of their control. Whether it be cancer, a car accident, a death in the family, something they didn’t have any decision making. We go through and pick one family each year, and we give them, just as the name is, the best Christmas ever. We try to restore their faith in humanity and their Christmas spirit, and give them a boost that’s going to last longer than just Christmas. It’s going to continue into their lives, and hopefully continue with them paying it forward as well.”
The selected family is unaware until the gifts are delivered to their house. The easiest way to donate locally is to visit the giving tree at the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame. There, people can pick a gift tag off the tree, buy the gift listed on the tag, and return it to the tree. Online donations are also accepted. They’re accepting these gifts and donations through this Friday, December 18th, with a wrapping party taking place on Saturday on the second floor of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame. Gifts will be delivered early next week.
Find out more about this organization and how to get involved on an upcoming Let’s Talk Knoxville.