2004-12-17
by Linda Braden Albert
of The Daily Times Staff

They came, they saw, they packed -- and hundreds of Blount County families will have a merrier Christmas because of it.

Empty Pantry Fund volunteers gathered en masse at the Tennessee Army National Guard Armory Thursday night for the annual packing of food baskets for their less-fortunate neighbors. The event resembled a family reunion more than a work session as old friends greeted one another prior to laying claim to a food station or a shopping cart in preparation for the real fun.

Noticeably missing from the activity were some familiar faces. Staff Sgt. William Dickerson and other members of HOW Battery 1/278th ACR were unable to attend this year due to deployment to the Middle East.

Patty Dickerson, standing in for her husband, took up her station at boxes of oatmeal along with their son Elijah, 11, and daughter Mercedes, 7. Nehemiah, 4, stayed home with his grandmother.

``At first I was cold, but after being here awhile, I'm hyped, I'm excited,'' said Patty Dickerson. ``My husband has always done this, but I've always had to stay home with a baby. I never, ever had a chance to do it, but he's done it for years. I decided since he's away, the best gift I can give him is doing this for him in his place. He talks so highly of this, and I know it pains him that he can't be here.''

Dickerson would not reveal her husband's exact whereabouts, but said, ``He has made it safely to where God wants him to be.''

William Dickerson sent an e-mail to Empty Pantry Fund Chairman Paul Bales Thursday morning. In it, he wrote, ``It means a lot to know that while we are many miles away serving our country, you are thinking of and supporting us. Although we can not be there with you physically, our spirits are with you as you come together to help others. We too are helping others. ... I envision the many people assembled there standing in line, pushing carts and filling bags. To the people assembled there, understand that what you are doing makes a difference. The Lord says we must be helpers one to another. It is an honor to represent a county that cares enough about the people in their county to do what all of you are doing tonight.''

Volunteer spirit alive

First-time volunteers and workers with years of experience under their belts diligently pushed shopping carts, filled bags or carried the remains of empty boxes until the packing was completed about 10:30 p.m. They were all ages, from every walk of life:

* Sue and Raymond Dunlap have packed EPF baskets for 15 years.

``This gets my Christmas season going,'' Sue Dunlap said. ``I mark down the date as soon as it's announced and everything else is planned for this night.''

She said she supported EPF because back in the 1930s, her parents were raising five kids and receiving help from similar organizations. This is her way of giving back, and as a teacher at Seymour High School, she encourages her students to do the same.

``I'm proud of them,'' Dunlap said. ``I'm proud of all these kids who are here tonight, too.''

* Lucy and Tyson McKeehan were attending the festivities for the first time.

``There's a lot of food here,'' Lucy said. ``There's no reason anyone in Blount County should go hungry.''

* Shirley and Larry Crisp, also first-timers, were manning the peanut butter station. Shirley is a volunteer with several different groups and decided to help EPF this year, too.

* Susan Curtis of Greenback has supported EPF with contributions for a long time, she said. This year, she decided to volunteer her time packing the baskets with the help of veteran packers Sam Turbyfill, 12, and Andy Turbyfill, 8. When the young men found that Curtis was a newbie, they volunteered to show her the ropes.

* Members of the Maryville/Alcoa Jaycees helped out, as well. A check for $1,500 was presented to Paul Bales before the packing began, the total from sheet collections in the 2004 Maryville/Alcoa Jaycees Christmas Parade.

* Leila Galaba and her fiancee David Coleman came to pack along with Galaba's friend, Patrick Barlow. Barlow has been involved with packing night for 26 years straight, he said. Another friend, Shane Hood, also volunteers each year, taking time from his duties as a Knoxville firefighter to attend.

* George Lethco is a 33-year veteran of EPF packing night. He attended with his father and his grandfather beginning at the age of 5, and now brings his daughter, Logan Bates, to help out.

``My daughter was 5 when I started bringing her and she's 14 now,'' Lethco said. When Logan was little, she'd start asking every year beginning in the summer when it would be time for the packing to begin.

``We look forward to it every year,'' he said.

* Boyd Parrott has been involved in packing and delivery for close to 40 years, he said.

``They helped me out when I needed it,'' Parrott said. ``This is the only way I can return that help.''

* Dixie Lombardo said Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts from all over Blount County were participating in the packing.

``There is a bunch of them here,'' she said with a smile. Nearly all of the 13 troops and 23 packs were represented.

Volunteers will gather at the Armory by 7 a.m. Sunday to load their vehicles for delivery of the food items and Toys for Tots, packed earlier this week by Junior Service League volunteers and other helpers.

As William Dickerson wrote, ``My prayer is that you take the spirit of tonight and put it to use daily. And when we return to good old Rocky Top, we will return to a great county that will be even greater.

``To all my fellow Blount Countians, have a merry Christmas and a happy new year and remember it is better to give than to receive and that Jesus is the reason for the season.''

Story Copyright to Maryville Daily Times