Warmth from the heart
Angels in our Midst II
A homeless woman in Knoxville poses with Madilynn Wright as a way of showing her appreciation for a coat Wright gave her.
Her father is a football coach, baseball coach, and Assistant Athletic Director. Her mother is her Cheerleading coach and the Cheerleading Director at Norwood Boys Club and girls club.
And she found that giving to others is as rewarding, if not more so, than any school accomplishment.
It started when Madilynn told her mother that she was requesting that Santa bring her coats and blankets to hand out to the homeless of Knoxville and to assist the KARM homeless shelter. She knew how cold it was going to be outside and decided she wanted to help.
And then fate stepped in to make a simple gesture, a simple request, from a child become something more.
Something personal.
That same week, Knoxville police officers had cleared out tents and other living areas on both public and private property near the Knoxville Area Rescue Ministry (KARM) shelter. It was the only spaces some homeless people in Knoxville had to themselves.
“We was told that we are to get our things, personal belongings and get them out, that we are no longer to stay here,” said Brad Cochran, a homeless Tennessean.
They are no longer allowed tents outside the KARM shelter to help keep warm.
Madilynn’s mother then took action on Facebook and asked her friends for help. Stephanie’s good friend, Kristy Bentley, saw her post and got in touch with Trinity Out-Reach Center of Hope — TORCH — and Brysonn’s Closet in Oak Ridge.
Brysonn’s Closet is one of the organizations assisting needy families with clothing and aids individuals and families who may find themselves homeless. Bently gathered dozens of coats, blankets, hats, scarves, socks and umbrellas.
Stephanie then took her daughter to Knoxville and let Madilynn hand out all her donations to those without shelter — and there were several people who needed jackets and blankets.
They were overwhelmed with happiness that an eight-year-old girl, who didn’t know them or their situation, had thought about them during the holiday season.
They all thanked her and some even posed for pictures with Madilynn. “Madilynn’s heart was full and she was so glad they she could help the people of Knoxville,” Stephanie Wright said.
“She’s had always had a giving heart and would give someone anything she had, no matter what it was.”
Stephanie recalled a parent once texting Stephanie to thank her for her kind daughter because Maddy had shown the parent’s child around the school and ate lunch with her on her first day at Grand Oakes when she transferred schools.
“She is very proud of her accomplishments that involve school academics, sports, and helping anyone any way she can. She is always trying to find a way to help people,” Stephanie Wright said.
If you would like to help, you may donate to Brysonn’s Closet or TORCH in Oak Ridge.
Her father is a football coach, baseball coach, and Assistant Athletic Director. Her mother is her Cheerleading coach and the Cheerleading Director at Norwood Boys Club and girls club.
And she found that giving to others is as rewarding, if not more so, than any school accomplishment.
It started when Madilynn told her mother that she was requesting that Santa bring her coats and blankets to hand out to the homeless of Knoxville and to assist the KARM homeless shelter. She knew how cold it was going to be outside and decided she wanted to help.
And then fate stepped in to make a simple gesture, a simple request, from a child become something more.
Something personal.
That same week, Knoxville police officers had cleared out tents and other living areas on both public and private property near the Knoxville Area Rescue Ministry (KARM) shelter. It was the only spaces some homeless people in Knoxville had to themselves.
“We was told that we are to get our things, personal belongings and get them out, that we are no longer to stay here,” said Brad Cochran, a homeless Tennessean.
They are no longer allowed tents outside the KARM shelter to help keep warm.
Madilynn’s mother then took action on Facebook and asked her friends for help. Stephanie’s good friend, Kristy Bentley, saw her post and got in touch with Trinity Out-Reach Center of Hope — TORCH — and Brysonn’s Closet in Oak Ridge.
Brysonn’s Closet is one of the organizations assisting needy families with clothing and aids individuals and families who may find themselves homeless. Bently gathered dozens of coats, blankets, hats, scarves, socks and umbrellas.
Stephanie then took her daughter to Knoxville and let Madilynn hand out all her donations to those without shelter — and there were several people who needed jackets and blankets.
They were overwhelmed with happiness that an eight-year-old girl, who didn’t know them or their situation, had thought about them during the holiday season.
They all thanked her and some even posed for pictures with Madilynn. “Madilynn’s heart was full and she was so glad they she could help the people of Knoxville,” Stephanie Wright said.
“She’s had always had a giving heart and would give someone anything she had, no matter what it was.”
Stephanie recalled a parent once texting Stephanie to thank her for her kind daughter because Maddy had shown the parent’s child around the school and ate lunch with her on her first day at Grand Oakes when she transferred schools.
“She is very proud of her accomplishments that involve school academics, sports, and helping anyone any way she can. She is always trying to find a way to help people,” Stephanie Wright said.
If you would like to help, you may donate to Brysonn’s Closet or TORCH in Oak Ridge.