If you’re out shopping, grabbing a coffee, working out or eating Italian and happen to see Cash Express barrels at each location, it may be a sign from Santa to donate.
Cash Express is making it easy to donate toys, coats, food and shoes to residents in need in Elizabethton with its 11th annual Toy and Coat Drive. With almost 30 drop off locations and more than 110 donation receptacles, they hope to collect even more than last year.
“We do this every year, and people are consistently generous,” said Manager Emily Montgomery. “Everything is given right back to the community, and we usually have a lot of donations.”
They are accepting new and lightly used toys, non-perishable food items, coats, shoes and cash donations at the Cash Express store.
Montgomery said they plan to give a portion of cash and gifts to a specific family that they have selected.
Various stores and schools will collect items until December 15.
A competition is taking place among four elementary schools to encourage students and their families to donate items. The winning classrooms at Unaka Elementary, Hunter Elementary, East Side Elementary and Happy Valley Elementary will receive a pizza party. Hampton High School is a drop-off and collection site as well, though they are not competing for pizza.
“If we can at least give food, coats and shoes to children and adults that don’t have them, then it may bring smiles to their faces in this holiday season,” said Montgomery.
Drop-off locations include National Guard, Evolution, Tennessee Tech Center, Vivacious Tans, State Farm Insurance, USA Storage, East Side Auto Center, Realty Sales and Rentals, Southern Restaurant, Dino’s Restaurant, Cannon’s Fine Home Furnishings, Betsy Town Mercantile, The Coffee Company, Diva Fit, New Image Weight Loss, Jiggy Rays, Alexander Insurance, Title Max, D&K Tax Service, Sun Loan, Valley Forge Auction and Wholesale, Toddle Time and the five schools mentioned above.