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They're making a list and checking it twice.

United Way of Blount County's Christmas Coordination is working with local schools, churches, nonprofit organizations and area communities to help make the Christmas season merry for as many in Blount County as possible.

Through the collaboration, organizations will cross-reference their lists of recipients to eliminate duplications, which allows the organizations to serve more families in the community.

Angie Luckie, director of engineering and public works for the City of Maryville, who organizes the city's Sanitation Santa program, emphasized the need for the collaboration.

"We don't want to duplicate efforts because there are plenty of people out there who need the help," Luckie said. "We are serving people that really are in need and not people who are kind of taking advantage of the system."

Jean Williamson, vice president for United Way of Blount County's Community Impact, highlighted other advantages to the collaboration.

"Basic communication is the key," Williamson said. "They're able to help each other with resources, and they work together to figure out how best to serve the people in Blount County."

Amanda Stone, co-chair for Maryville Junior Service League's Toys for Blount County, noted the importance of working together.

"Our goal is to serve any child in need in the county, and that's just not a reality," Stone said. "Because we have help from other organizations, it allows us to use the funds that we have to give more to the children that we're going to serve."

Registration dates

Registration for Christmas programs will begin soon. Toys for Blount County will accept names Oct. 20-24. Friendsville Citizens for Community Improvement (CCI) will register families in the Friendsville area. Oct. 20-31. Chilhowee Baptist Center will take names Oct. 27 - Nov. 21 or until they have received 250 families.

Local school systems are also organizing names for children in need during the holidays. Individuals wishing to sign up children through the school systems need to contact the child's school guidance counselor for more information.

Millie Flood, a volunteer with Friendsville CCI, explained why the collaboration is important to the community.

"Just to see the expression on the people's faces and the stories some of them will tell us, saying that if it wasn't for us, they wouldn't have had a Christmas," Flood said.

She noted the real credit belongs to the generosity of Blount County.

"We have a lot of very, very giving people in this area," Flood said. "Everybody steps up."

For more information on United Way of Blount County's Christmas Coordination, please visit the Christmas Coordination page on the "Our Community" section of liveunitedblount.org.