After seeing Christmas cheer last year, Dan Deel is looking to pay it forward for the children in the community this season.

Citizens are encouraged to stop by Jiggy’s Rays in Historic Downtown Elizabethton on Saturday, Dec. 3, following the Christmas Parade for the inaugural Acoustic Toys of Tots concert. The concert is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. and area musicians are encouraged to invited by and play. A $5 donation is welcomed and Marines will also be on hand to accept toys for Tri-Cities children.

The event idea came easy for Deel. The country musician, born and raised in Kentucky, was scheduled to play at Jiggy Ray’s last year before unexpected circumstances arose.

“Last year, I was booked to play here at Jiggy Ray’s,” Deel said Thursday. “I went into Johnson City Medical Center for what I thought was a routine gallbladder surgery … it ended up being an eight hour life-threatening surgery requiring five units of blood.

“When I woke up, I was in ICU on a ventilator,” Deel continued. “I didn’t know what happened. I spent the next two months, through Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve, inside Johnson City Medical Center.”

The event, which he was scheduled to play with roughly 20 other musicians ended up being transformed into a benefit concert. It all came full circle, according to Deel, citing the help of his mother and friends during that trying time.

“My wonderful mom stood by me the entire time,” he said. “She actually bought me my first guitar when I was 15 years old. That guitar and song led me through a bunch of wonderful friendships throughout the years. A lot of those friends showed up the night I was suppose to play and it turned into a benefit concert for me. I can’t say how much I appreciate what they did.”

The concert ended up netting close to $1500. While in the hospital, Deel added he received videos from the concert and had the money delivered – which went to medical expenses.

“It was incredible,” he added with a smile.

Deel added the idea also made sense due to his day job, where he serves as a social worker.

“It was something that just came to me,” Deel said. “I spend a lot of my time during my day job working with foster children. I’ve worked with kids that are in the system and don’t really have a lot. Toys for Tots is a great program. They do a lot of great working by putting toys together for kids that may not have a gift under the tree … they may not even have a tree at all.

“I thought we should put it together again this time, I can actually be here,” he continued with a chuckle. “I heard last year’s event went well so this year is a time to pay it forward. I was humbled by what my friends did for me … so I thought this could be a perfect way to help pay it forward.”

Mick and Glenda Kyte are just two of a handful of individuals helping get things together for Saturday. After last year, Mick said Saturday’s event was a no-brainer.

“When we came together last year, it was to help out a close friend and fellow musician who was facing some serious health issues,” he said. “But I found that the act of lending our talents for a cause like this made the spirit of Christmas more real than it has ever been. Now we’re wanting to come together every year to give something back because that is what Christmas is all about.”

Deel also credited the owners of Jiggy Ray’s John (Bull) Malone and John Seehorn for their continued support for the community.

“Bull and John are great, they’re always doing things for the community,” he said. “They’ve always been hospitable and great. They were really concerned about me. When I came by afterwards, their faces lit up. It meant a lot to me.”

It will be a busy weekend for the restaurant, Seehorn added. Along with Saturday, the restaurant is also raising money for those affected by wildfires in Sevier County on Friday, Dec. 2.

“Any chance we have to give something back to the community, to the kids, anybody … we’re going to take part in that,” Seehorn said. “Dan’s been instrumental into getting this situated. We’re making this whole weekend about giving back. We’re doing the fundraiser Friday night for Gatlinburg and Saturday for Toys for Tots.”

Having the opportunity to give back goes back to the support from musicians, according to Seehorn.

“The musicians are a huge part of our success,” he said. “Musicians, music and atmosphere. We wanted the trifecta here in Elizabethton. We can do things like this because musicians are willing to put their time and effort.”

The ultimate cherry on top is Saturday’s event coinciding with the annual Christmas parade.

“We’re going to sling pizzas out the door as fast as we can and hope people enjoy themselves,” Seehorn said with a laugh.

For more information, call (423) 518-1500.