Crockett Elementary Family Organizes Coat Drive for Gatlinburg
Published December 15, 2016
The Crockett Elementary community is coming together to help families affected by the recent fires in Gatlinburg.
Crockett parent Elizabeth Maxwell and her family have a home in Walland, not far from Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. The Maxwell’s weren’t affected by the wildfires, but they were deeply saddened for all of the families who lost their homes, businesses and people they love. So they decided to do something about it.
“My husband and I were immediately on the phone contacting different organizations and reaching out to see what we could do from Brentwood,” Maxwell said. “I spoke with the Smoky Mountain Area Rescue Ministry and they told me their annual coat drive was being held on December 10. Usually, the local schools help promote and collect coats for this event, however it was more difficult this year with the school closings. I decided this was a perfect opportunity for our community to jump in and help out.”
Maxwell, whose daughter Addison is in second grade at Crockett, reached out out to principal Robert Bohrer and proposed the idea of the Crockett community holding a coat drive.
After getting all of the proper approval, she was given the thumbs up, and Crockett held a coat drive December 5-8 to benefit the Smoky Mountain Area Rescue Ministry.
“Mr. Bohrer and I agreed that if we could collect 150-200 coats, it would be fabulous,” Maxwell said. “I delivered large collection bins to the school Monday morning with great hopes of a successful drive.”
At 10 a.m. she received a photo from Crockett that showed the bins were stuffed to the brim.
UnknownThe drive ended up collecting so may coats, 1,216 to be exact, that the Maxwell’s had to rent a 12-foot Uhaul, which was barely able to hold all the donations.
Maxwell’s husband Seth drove the coats to the Smoky Mountain Area Rescue Ministry December 9 and said the ministry was blown away by the generosity of the Crockett families.
The Maxwells hung around on Saturday to volunteer at the coat giveaway.
“It was such a blessing to have our young children there, helping others, getting an understanding of humanity and kindness to strangers,” Elizabeth said. “It made my day to see those young children walk away all bundled up with huge smiles on their faces. It was such a wonderful experience, and I am so thankful to be a part of a school family that always steps up to the plate to help others.”