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Wlaf1450TOP PHOTO: Several officials attended the event including Campbell County Mayor E.L. Morton (left), Parks and Recreation Department Head Johnny Byrge (Byrge is also chairman of the Campbell County Board of Education) and Pastor Lynn Ray of Hillcrest Baptist Church.
By Charlotte Underwood
LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – Christmas came early at the Dewey Hunter Center in LaFollette on Wednesday morning. About 240 children participated in the joint holiday event held by Dust of Hope Mission and 2nd District County Commissioner Scott Kitts. The event included $15 gift card giveaways, toy giveaways, photos with Santa, as well as games and activities. Parents and kids lined up around the inside of the Gym well before the 9 a.m. start of the event.
Several officials attended the event, including County Mayor E.L. Morton, LaFollette Mayor Philip Farmer, Parks and Recreation Department Head Johnny Byrge and several others. Local Pastor Lynn Ray delivered the prayer at the start of the event.
“We just wanted to do something special for the community and especially the kids,” said event organizer Kim Derry Leonard with Dust of Hope. She said the Mission plans to continue to do this event each year, hoping it “grows bigger and better.”
“We want to make Campbell County a better place. We love our community and want everyone to have a Merry Christmas,” Derry Leonard said.
Commissioner Scott Kitts said he wanted to do something for the community as well and had begun planning and organizing for this event back in November.
“This was a collaboration with Dust of Hope and we couldn’t have done it without all of our wonderful sponsors,” Kitts said.
Derry Leonard said she wanted to thank sponsors and all the volunteers and community leaders that helped with the event.
“This is about the kids. It’s all worth it to see the looks on their faces,” Derry Leonard said. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 12/23/2021-6AM)
Thank you Scott Kitts and Kim Leonard with Dust of Hope you all gave some of our Campbell County children a Christmas and God will bless you both for making this happen. I hope you both have a Merry Christmas just like you let these precious children have one. Thanks again.