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Norris Good Neighbors now signing up families for Christmas food, toys

Norris Area Good Neighbors is once again making a list and checking it twice for families eligible to receive tubs of groceries as well as gifts for kids at Christmas.

The organization, which dates to the founding of Norris in the mid-1930s, has been providing food for needy families at Christmas at least since the 1950s, said Good Neighbors Food Coordinator Bob Gregory.

Providing toys and clothing gifts for children has been going on since at least the 1980s, Gregory said.

To be eligible to participate, families must live in the Norris Middle School attendance area, which is approximately everywhere east of the Clinch River except for some areas of Clinton and the Claxton community, he said.

The organization, which comprises representatives of Norris-area churches, has sent out notices to last year’s participants to ask them to register again for this year’s program, Gregory said, providing each with a form to fill out and an addressed envelope to mail it back in.

For those who are new to the program or have not yet registered by mail, there will be a drive-up registration event from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 3425 Andersonville Highway (Highway 61)

Qualified families are asked to bring to the registration event: proof of residence within the Norris Middle School zone, proof you qualify to receive public assistance, and information about your household. For children’s gifts: On a written sheet, provide for each child 18 and under: name; gender; date of birth; school (if school age); shirt, pants, and shoe sizes; and Christmas gift requests.

“Those qualified families that have not previously registered by mail and who miss the drive-through registration on Oct. 23 may register by calling the Norris Religious Fellowship at 865-494-7131 before Nov. 15,” Gregory said. “Leave a message and how to reach you, and someone will contact you back.”

The group switched to drive-up food and gift distribution last year because of COVID-19, and “that worked so well we are doing it again this year,” he said. Food will be distributed at the Norris Religious Fellowship, and the Christmas gifts at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.

According to Gregory, “Good Neighbors is an association of representatives from Norris-area churches and others, which has been aiding families from the Norris area since 1934. Funds for food and gifts come from donations.

“To donate, please contact the Norris Religious Fellowship,” he said. “To adopt an Angel from an Angel Tree to provide children’s gifts, please leave a message at 865-494-0372.”