Despite COVID-19 challenges, 1st FWKCC Drop-In/Off a success
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Julie Blaylock, left, Farragut West Knox Chamber of Commerce president/CEO, accepts a gift from Chamber member Angela Harvey with First Horizon Bank during FWKCC’s Holiday Drop-In, Drop-Off event at the Chamber office, 11826 Kingston Pike, Tuesday, Dec. 15. - Photos by Tammy Cheek
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On hand for an exchange of gifts for families in need be-tween Farragut West Knox Chamber of Commerce and Turkey Creek Medical Center, from left, are Adam Freit-ag, FWKCC ambassador; Kevin Morrison (gray suit), Tennova Healthcare chief financial officer; Mark Serago (back), Tennova vice president of oncology; Tony Benton, Tennova CEO; Christina Cutcher, RN, Tennova Healthcare oncology nurse navigator; Kelli Mundt, RN, and Barbara Burchfield, RN, both with Tennova's radiation department; Ben Ridder (back) Tennova chief operating officer; Julie Blaylock FWKCC president/CEO; and Travis Simmons, Tennova chief nursing officer. - Photos by Tammy Cheek
With little to no expectations as to how a changed Holiday Open House to Holiday Drop-In, Drop-Off format would be received, Farragut West Knox Chamber of Commerce president/CEO Julie Blaylock said the Chamber’s Dec. 15 event at the office went well, with about 40 coming in during the day.
“We have never done this before, but it was wonderful,” she said about visits to the office, 11826 Kingston Pike. “We had a steady stream of people between 10 (a.m.) and 6 (p.m.). I couldn’t have been more pleased.”
Following the upsurge of COVID-19 cases, Blaylock and her staff wanted to create an event that would promote “social distancing” while still welcoming in and treating its members.
At the same time, members went above and beyond filling Christmas wishes for the 11 families adopted by FWKCC from the American Cancer Society, through the four major hospitals in the area, and Faith Promise Church in Farragut.
They delivered those gifts Thursday, Dec. 17.
“In providing these (gifts) for deserving families, we’re excited to be able to participate and support those in the community that we serve,” said Tony Benton, Tennova Healthcare CEO, after FWKCC delivered gifts to families at Turkey Creek Medical Center, which is part of Tennova Healthcare.
”Based on the response, especially this year when there’s more need and especially when we didn’t know which businesses would have the means to support this project after everything 2020 has thrown at us, it’s really just been absolutely phenomenal,” Blaylock said.
