Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Stuffed animals donated to the Evelyn Boswell Memorial will be included in the Bundles of Love Bags from the TLC Community Center in Elizabethton this year. 
“We normally have stuffed animals from Lifeway every year, but this year they had shut down,” explained Angie Odom, founder and director of the TLC Community Center. “So, this year we weren’t going to have that, but then a person that was helping with the Evelyn Boswell Memorial, the first memorial made, reached out to us. They brought in loads of bags of stuffed animals to us.”
Inside these bags the center received was a dedication to the young child. Odom said the donation was bittersweet.
“It really broke my heart as I was going through the bags thinking about what she probably went through,” said Odom. “I want families receiving these stuffed animals to know the meaning behind it, and to hold their child close.”
In addition to stuffed animals, the Bundle of Love Bags contain a wide variety of items, including hygiene products, food geared towards children, warm clothing items, toys, school supplies, etc.
In total 1,000 bags were made this year despite the center having limited volunteers in efforts to reduce the dangers surrounding COVID-19. This was made possible by donations from Northeast Community Credit Union and a toy drive held by the Dollar General in Stoney Creek. Donations are still welcome as well.
Bags can be picked up on Dec. 8  from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for those already signed up. Those not signed up can come from 4-6 p.m.
Odom stressed that people should not arrive early.
The way to know if you have already signed up is if you are a regular attendee to the center and have received a paper in your dash.
This event will be completely drive thru, and will include Santa and his elves making the occasion that much more special.
In addition to the Bundles of Love, food can also be picked up as usual. The TLC Center currently serves over 1,000 meals every week and does not intend to stop any time soon.
Odom asks that clients of Mommy Mart contact the center about picking up additional items in addition to attending on Dec. 8.
The center is located at 145 Judge Don Lewis Blvd. across from the National Guard. For more information, go to the center’s Facebook page or call 423-895-8601.