KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Several nonprofits worked throughout the year to uplift the East Tennessee community and make sure people had everything they needed to thrive and live. Across rural Appalachia, the Mission of Hope worked to make sure young students were able to achieve in the classroom.
Throughout 2023, Mission of Hope said it helped around 10,000 students across 29 elementary schools. The nonprofit said it gave out school supplies, new toys, clothing, hygiene supplies and boxes of food to make sure students were able to engage with school materials without worrying about whether they could eat regularly, or whether they had the right tools to learn.
Mission of Hope also said it made 79 box truck shipments to nonprofits and churches, packed with donated goods like furniture, clothing, food and household items. The nonprofits and churches then gave the donations away to people who needed them in the community.
It also gave out 46 scholarships to students working to graduate college and pursue their dreams.
Anyone who wants to donate to Mission of Hope can do so online. It started in 1996 and serves more than 47 counties throughout Tennessee, Kentucky and Virginia. Each county is identified to be in the bottom 10% in income, education, poverty and employment rates compared to the rest of the U.S., according to a release from Mission of Hope.