A Christman tradition is bringing holiday joy to East Tennessee Children’s Hospital with our battery drive, which culminated in a delivery on Dec. 20 as part of the “Be Constructive” program.
The charge of the annual collection drive, led by the Knoxville office, is to bring cheer to children who may be spending the holiday season in the hospital.
“The Christman Company wants to help power the holidays for young patients at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital,” said Marty Gibbs, senior vice president and general manager for The Christman Company’s Knoxville operations. “It’s a small gesture, but we hope it brings some comfort to these children and their families.”
The Christman Company delivered 16 buckets of batteries to the hospital that had been collected by employees and subcontractors that work with the firm. Christman employees began participating in the drive in 2016.
Knoxville’s General Superintendent Butch Hale said he was energized to help lead the collection for the company after previously watching volunteers deliver handmade sacks with toys to each child in the hospital on Christmas Eve.
“A child’s holiday can only be so good when they’re spending it in the hospital,” Hale said. “Our hope is to provide batteries for every toy that needs them – not only that day, but throughout the year – so that children can immediately enjoy their new toys.”
The “Be Constructive” program is a company-wide initiative to be an active and significant contributor to the local communities it serves. The program supports a variety of missions through volunteerism, individual and corporate giving, sponsorships and partnerships.