The LeConte Medical Center Volunteer Thrift Shop is accepting and distributing donations of water and toiletries, clothing, shoes and coats. Those in need of clothing and these essentials are invited to come by the shop to pick up the items they need free of charge. The Thrift Shop is located at 441 Parkway in Sevierville. Call 865-428-2586 to check on the Shop’s expanded hours of operation during the next several days.

West Town Mall invites families and friends to lend a helping hand and give back to neighbors in the Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge areas. The recent wild fires in east Tennessee have brought chaos and destruction to thousands of community members, and in an effort to share care and support, mall management will host a fire rescue donation drop through Friday, December 2.

Shoppers may drop donations off at the store located at the mall’s front entrance near Forever 21 and The Cheesecake Factory between 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Items including water bottles, clothing, toiletries and pet care needs will be donated to fire fighters and local evacuees before the start of the weekend.

Stages West  at 2765 Parkway in Pigeon Forge is currently serving as a drop off location for Sevier County fire relief donations. They are specifically seeking the following: baby diapers of all sizes, adult Depends, hand sanitizer, and non-perishable snacks.

Wilderness at the Smokies, 1424 Old Knoxville Hwy., Sevierville, Tenn., is calling for immediate donations and will be serving as a drop off/pick up location to assist victims affected by the wildfires in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg.

Community members are encouraged to drop off gently used and new clothes, blankets, towels, diapers and wipes, baby formula, personal toiletries, bottled water, and nonperishable snack items to Cades Cove meeting room, located at Stone Hill Lodge, today through Fri. Dec. 2, from 8 a.m. – 11 p.m. Distribution of donated items will be available Wed., Nov. 30 through Fri. Dec. 2, from 8 a.m. – 11 p.m. Both collections and donation dates may be extended based on need. Wilderness at the Smokies’ staff will be on hand to collect, sort and distribute goods. Those wishing to make a monetary donation are encouraged to contact the Red Cross.

The Knoxville Civic Auditorium and Coliseum is accepting donations this week for evacuees and first responders the Gatlinburg area. They are currently accepting cases of water and Gatorade; pre-packaged, non-perishable food items; toiletry items; blankets; and diapers and formula.

The donations can be dropped off at the Knoxville Coliseum box office during extended hours this week:

Extended office hours
Tuesday, Nov. 29: 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 30: 8 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 1: 8 a.m. – 7 p.m
Friday, Dec. 2: 8 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 3: 8 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 4: 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.

As the truck fills with items, they will deliver to shelters in the Gatlinburg area and will continue deliveries to the area throughout the week.

They have several events in the Auditorium and Coliseum this week, as well as being the starting point for the community-wide Christmas Parade on Friday. They encourage patrons to bring a donation with them while they attend events at the facility to give back this holiday season.

Wednesday, Nov. 3: The 1975
Friday, Dec. 2: Valor Fights, The Christmas Parade
Saturday, Dec. 3: Neal McCoy, The Nutcracker
Sunday, Dec. 4: The Nutcracker