Roughly 10,000 East Tennesseans in need will receive food baskets from the Empty Stocking Fund at Chilhowee Park this weekend.
The News Sentinel Empty Stocking Fund collects donations all year, and then compiles the baskets in the five days leading up to distribution day.
"We have been planning for this all year, and we are so excited to help almost 10,000 East Tennesseans that might go hungry this Christmas with a basket full of food," said Tess Woodhull, with the News Sentinel Empty Stocking Fund.
The baskets are full of can goods, a turkey, bread, stuffing, etc.
It's enough food to last a family of four for about a week.
Woodhull said this is the Empty Stocking Fund's 106th year.
"Some local community leaders got together and decided they wanted to help hungry families," Woodhull said.
Families can also pick out two toys per child. Woodhull said Variety of East Tennessee provided the fund with a grant to purchase the toys.
In addition to toys, families will be able to pick out books thanks to donations from Friends of the Library.
Over 1,000 volunteers will help with packaging and staging today, Dec. 20, so the food can be distributed.
Distribution days will be on Friday for pick-ups and Saturday for home bound deliveries.
For information on how to help, visit the Empty Stocking Fund website and Facebook page.