December 2022

If you like the work we do, you can be part of it!

Make a donation of any size through the Give!Local campaign through the end of the year - and get some goodies in the process. For gifts over $25, you'll get freebies & discounts from local businesses and the chance to win a party pack donated by Crumbl Cookies.

Mission Health is matching gifts through this campaign up to $5,500 - please help us reach that match!

You can also help by becoming an Eblen Champion by making a monthly gift of any size. Monthly gifts help us have dependable income throughout the year.

We could also use your gift of time - we are looking for volunteers to help answer the phone, do data entry, and provide support to events. Contact Beth or Julie to learn more.

Kindness in Action

It’s been a hard year for some folks in our community. We’ve had people asking for help for the first time, as they struggle to afford the cost of living in our area.

But the struggle people face is matched by our community's resolve and support. We're grateful to and encouraged by the businesses, foundations, and people who have stepped up to help.

We often see how many things divide us today. But I believe that we have far more in common than not, and I never feel that more when I look at the kindness and care our community offers to each other.

Last week I met a young couple living with their 2 children and dog in their car. They had come to our St. Nicholas Toy Store and were glad to have new toys, books, and clothing to give their children. We gave other help as well – practical help to get them moved into an apartment and to give their children a stable home.

The support you have offered in 2022 has allowed us to meet people just like this sweet family where they are, and to offer real solutions.

Take a look at the photos below, and see some of the many groups that offered help in 2022. It is a joy to serve our community, and it wouldn't be possible without the hard work and dedication of our staff, the gift of time and skills from our volunteers, and the financial support of hundreds of people, faith communities, and companies - and YOU.

Thank you.

We have a lot to be grateful for this year! We're still tallying numbers, but we've helped thousands of local residents with everything from heat to holiday gifts.

Santa doesn't get his toys delivered without the help of his elves - and we don't either. Thank you to amazing volunteers Cindy and Suzanne, pictured above, and Nancy, below as well as countless other folks who drove around the county to collect toys, sorted and organized them, and ran a retail operation for 2 weeks. We love our volunteers!

The Smoky Mountain Toy Run collected funds and toys to stock the St. Nicholas Toy Store! Thank you to these big hearted bikers.

Ingles Markets entered everyone who made a donation to the Ingles Magical Christmas Toy Drive to support the St. Nicholas Store into a raffle. The winner won FREE groceries for 6 months!

Pratt & Whitney bought thousands of dollars worth of toys and teen items for our St. Nicholas Toy Store, and helped us offer Thanksgiving meals.

We are glad to have the partnership of SanStone Health & Rehabilitation who sponsored our Walk, Run, or Roll.

Our long-time friends at Kimmel and Associates volunteered throughout the year with us and helped us sponsor many of our programs.

We helped hundreds of local kids start the school year with a brand new backpack full of school supplies.

Our Board of Directors leads Eblen's vision - but also volunteers at hands-on events! Pictured is Board Chair Drue Ray, along with Directors Susan Ableidinger and Pat Bryant giving out 800 Thanksgiving meals.

We're grateful to Mission Health for their support this year! They offered a matching gift for our Give!Local campaign, collected toys and teen items AND volunteered at the St. Nicholas Toy Store.

Thank you to Allen Tate/Beverly Hanks realtors, who helped sponsor our Thanksgiving meal giveaway and worked in our St. Nicholas Toy Store!

You can still help us.

Your help is appreciated! We hope you will consider one of these ways to offer support from making an end-of-year gift, offering your time and skills as a volunteer, or having your company sponsor one of our events.