A community service project that started during the COVID19 pandemic is gearing up for a
second year. Amanda Shaw, owner of Macon Rental along with Jamaica Taylor launched a gift
drive for area nursing homes in 2020 to address a need within Grandview Manor. After working
together to brainstorm, the duo, along with two others, Summer Kelly and Laura Beth Tallent
decided to host a donation drive to bring holiday cheer to area nursing home residents.
Last year, with the help of individuals and businesses around Macon County, holiday gifts were
provided in droves for care packages for nursing home residents. All together the community
came together to provide 210 care packages for the residents of the Franklin House, Grandview
Manor, and Macon Valley Nursing Center in Macon County as well as the Hermitage in Sylva
and this year, the group hope to serve all the facilities once again.
“Covid has been hard on everyone and it continues to be,” said Shaw. “During the pandemic the
thing that brought joy to to us was being able to spread a little happiness. We all agreed that thisproject was a way to bring smiles to our elders in the community.”
This year, the students at Union Academy have volunteered to help fill the care packages, and
will be donating their time to providing holiday cheer for the community.
Those interested in helping are invited to donate small, fun holiday items and candy such as lip
balm, hair care items, lotions, cards, large print game books, NON-SLIP socks and treats.
“Don’t forget we share with both men and women,” said Shaw. “Think of things your parents,
grands, and great grands might like. If you would like to donate money, we can do that through
PayPal and Venmo. That money will be used to do a bulk order from Dodge Packaging and
Amazon.”
You can drop off items at Macon Rental Company or by contacting Jamaica Taylor, Summer
Kelly or Amanda Shaw to arrange a pick up. The deadline for donations is December 9th to
allow time to package the gifts.
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