| Nissan spreads holiday cheer |
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By: MICHELLE WILLARD, Post Staff Writer
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Posted: Thursday, December 17, 2009 11:49 am
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West Main Mission director Jim Hargrove looks on some of the gifts brough by Nissan employees. TMP/M. Willard
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With the economy in the doldrums and unemployment in Rutherford County pushing 10 percent, West Main Mission has seen a “drastic increase” in families needing help this holiday season.
“We have lots of people we’ve never seen before,” said Jim Hargrove, director of West Main Mission. “Twenty percent are new faces in the past few months and we wouldn’t be able to do much if it wasn’t for Nissan.”
For the 21st year, more than 800 employees from Nissan’s Smyrna plant gave to the annual “Christmas in the Heart” campaign.
The employees bought more than 6,100 gifts including toys, games, clothes and books to West Main Mission. More gifts were then distributed to seven other agencies in Middle Tennessee including the Tennessee Veterans Home and Room in the Inn.
“We realize far more families are facing economic hardships this year, and that it’s important to support the community,” said Scott Becker, Nissan’s senior vice president of Administration and Finance.
Melody Tidwell, local Christmas in the Heart organizer and Nissan employee, was also touched by the generosity of Nissan’s employees.
“The employees get as much joy out of giving as we hope the gifts bring to the families,” she said.
The employees know how fortunate they are to be employed in this economy and “we want to share our good fortune with the community,” Tidwell continued.
Nissan will also donate $20,000 to Second Harvest Food Bank during the 14th annual Kids Café Holiday Party in Nashville where children from Middle Tennessee will get toys donated by local residents. More toys and gifts were given to the Salvation Army Angel Tree program.
Michelle Willard can be contacted at 615-869-0816 or mwillard@murfreesboropost.com. |
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