Fox Den Country Club Holiday Toy Drive biggest yet

Patti Thigpen, Carrie Wrinn and Caroline Inman are three employees of Fox Den Country Club who, for about two weeks in late fall, get to witness first-hand as scores of club members display a joyful spirit of giving.

They joined Dave Largent, FDCC general manager, to spearhead 16th Annual Fox Den Country Club Holiday Toy Drive Nov. 28 to Dec. 13, which reached a new level of giving as displayed in the club’s foyer.

“We didn’t count them, but by the looks of things it’s by far the most gifts than the members have donated of any of the 16 years,” Largent said. “They’ve been bringing toys at a steady pace for the last two weeks. I would say a couple hundred members, at least, have donated toys.”

This year’s donation benefits children in need who are serviced by Mission of Hope “in northeast Tennessee, southeast Kentucky and southwest Virginia counties,” Emmette Thompson, MOH executive director, said.

“We could never do this without everybody chipping in. And because of the generosity of people like Fox Den Country Club, we’re going to 28 elementary schools this year. And we’re going to serve a little over 18,000 children and their family members,” Thompson added. “It’s a blessing for us to have people like Fox Den help us the way they do.”

On a personal note, “My favorites are always the remote control cars,” Largent added with a laugh.

“We are honored to have collected so many toys for Mission of Hope,” Thigpen, FDCC controller, said.

“I really enjoy watching our membership rally together for a great cause,” Wrinn, club’s Spe-cial Events director, said.

“It’s very easy to get lost in the hustle and bustle of Christmas. This was a wonderful and rewarding reminder of what Christmas is all about.

“I am so thankful we collected so many toys,” Inman, FDCC communications and administrative assistant, said.