Bandit Lites spreads holiday cheer
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Bandit has provided the local communities with Angel Tree assistance for many years. Knoxville’s Angel Tree programme has been working to make sure Santa visits every local child, no matter their circumstances since 1975, and the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree Programme delivers gifts to over one million children each year.
In a combined effort by HR coordinator Cori Link, director of philanthropy Allison Burchett and controller Shay Simpson, each Bandit team member across multiple Bandit locations had the opportunity to shop for an underprivileged child. Individual paper angels held children’s wishes, ranging from toys and games to practical needs that so many can take for granted, such as toothbrushes and toothpaste, or even a warm winter coat.
Shop foreman Erich Hudgens in Nashville made multiple trips as the number of Bandits participating grew this year, with dozens of team members headed to local stores to shop for the children before delivering the gifts. In all cities, Bandit provides vans to transport team members, and each team member is providing cash by the company to shop for those in need.
Each person has the opportunity to pick the angle card they like in order to assist a particular child making the experience very personal, as each person is involved from start to finish of the process.
The true spirit of the holidays is one of giving, and it is a spirit that Bandit chair Michael T. Strickland hopes touches the hearts of all each season. “The very act of reading the wishes from each child is often heart breaking, but at the same time inspirational,” Strickland said. “When you see a five-year-old child ask for shoes, at a time when most children want toys, it is very humbling.
“We are very blessed at Bandit and this opportunity to help children in some small way brings a warm feeling and a huge smile to everyone’s face. The hour plus that it takes as we drive to the store, pick the right gifts, and then return, is a great time of bonding in the holiday season. The emotional moments we experience in that time are priceless and forever remembered. Most of us leave knowing the name of the child we assisted, and we pray for a great Christmas for each of them.”
(Jim Evans)
