SVEC Holiday Food Drive
Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative members and employees have a long history of coming together in tough times to help each other out. This “neighbors helping neighbors” attitude has always been a strength of our closely knit communities. And our “commitment to community” has never been stronger than now during the trying times of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Knowing that even more families will be needing assistance this year, SVEC will continue our annual Angel Tree and Holiday Food Drive programs; however, we will be making some adjustments to ensure the health and safety of our employees and members.
With many people still out of work due to the COVID-19 pandemic, local food banks are seeing higher-than-normal need for assistance. However, to reduce the need for members to come into the SVEC lobbies to make donations of canned goods and to reduce “touchpoints” and the possibility of spreading the virus, we ask that our members who would like to donate to the local food banks to make monetary donations.
To commemorate 25 years of the SVEC Holiday Food Drive, for each donation of at least $5, the member will receive the 2020 SVEC “Safe at Home Cookbook” in appreciation. It features recipes submitted by SVEC members, employees and their family and friends and will also contain photos and stories of the comfort foods our members have been preparing to make life in these trying times a little more pleasant.
Additional books can be purchased for $5 each. All proceeds will go to the county-wide food bank in the county where it was donated.
The local food banks are able to purchase food through the Chattanooga Food Bank at a much lower cost than our members pay in a grocery store, and the food banks can purchase the items that are most needed. As a result, your cash contributions will feed even more people for less than the cost of the donated canned goods!
Donations can be made through the SVEC office drive-through window if you do not want to come into the lobby.
The cookbooks will be available in early November while supplies last.
Angel Tree Program
For more than 20 years, SVEC has made available “angels” representing children and nursing home residents who might not have much under the tree on Christmas. We normally have 25-40 angels in each of our four counties— a total of approximately 150 angels.
In the past, we have asked our members and employees to “adopt” an angel, purchase age-appropriate gifts and return them in gift bags to our offices in early December.
However, to avoid having our members risk exposure to COVID-19 while getting out to shop and bringing gifts into our offices, we are asking them this year to instead to make monetary donations. The money will be given to the local Head Start program in each county for those staffs to purchase and distribute the gifts.
Angels for nursing home residents will be available in some offices. If you wish, you can donate funds to purchase gifts for residents in a nursing home in your county.
Please consider making a donation of what you would normally spend on gifts for an “angel.” However, since many families will be on tighter budgets this year, we will, in appreciation for your gift, present anyone making a donation of at least $10 with a paper clip angel ornament, handmade by SVEC employees, family and friends. This small token is a reminder that even in a year in which our Christmas celebrations will be greatly changed, the spirit of Christmas and the generosity in the hearts of our friends and neighbors remain.
Please make your donations by Tuesday, Dec. 1, to ensure the gifts can be purchased and delivered before the school Christmas break.