| The 28th annual Santa’s Village, held last weekend at the Ned McWherter Agricultural Complex at the University of Tennessee at Martin, recorded the highest attendance numbers in the event’s history with 17,810 visitors.
The numbers surpassed the previous record of 15,365 set in 2011.
Food donations totaled $43,013 and toy donations added up to $10,262, making the final donation total $53,275.
The many service agencies which will benefit from those donations are Chimes for Charity and Northwest Tennessee Disaster Services, as well as We Care Ministries, Santa’s Helpers, Healthy Start and the Northwest Tennessee Economic Development Council.
“This is my 24th year to work at Santa’s Village and I believe this has been one of the best. I am proud to say that the village has surpassed the million dollar mark in donations with a total of $1,036,438,” said Kim Kirby, Martin Parks and Recreation Department program director.
Santa’s Village featured 26,000 square feet of lights, holiday displays and continuous entertainment. Admission was the donation of $5 worth of food items or toys.
Co-sponsors for the event were the City of Martin and UT Martin. Additional sponsors of the event included University Plaza, First State Bank, MTD Products, Tyson Foods, Greenball, Savant Learning Systems, Volunteer Community Hospital and Frontier Communications. As part of the event each year, WCMT radio sponsors a can caravan for canned food donations collected at schools.
For more information, contact Martin Parks and Recreation Department at (731) 587-6784. Published in The Messenger 12.14.12 |
