Meet November’s “Do the Right Thing” winner: Kelly Simmons
Chattanooga, TN (WDEF) – November "Do the Right Thing" winner Kelly Simmons said, "Wow. Thank you so much I appreciate it. I really do. I’m kind of taken by this right now."
Simmons was speechless when we surprised him with the big win. He did say, "We’ll put this money to good use. And make it happen."
Simmons knows a thing or two about making things happen. He runs the Forgotten Child Fund… to make sure no child goes without presents on Christmas.
Simmons explained, "We’re out there and see people at their worst. So to be able to give back. And let people know that we do care, that’s what it’s all about."
Fellow Forgotten Child Fund volunteer Clay Ingle said, "We go into these houses, we see the kids that haven’t got anything, through no fault of their own, and a lot of these parents are doing everything they’ve got. They get laid off right before Christmas, or they just don’t have the money to buy toys, and this is a way we can give back to our community."
Helping people isn’t just a profession to these volunteers, it’s a lifestyle.
Simmons said, "We couldn’t do it without the public believing in what we do. None of us here makes a penny here. We come and do it out of the bottom of our hearts."
Ingle added, "Kelly does this 12 months out of the year. This isn’t a three month operation like a lot of people think. I mean, he’s just constantly trying to get more toys, to get more children to make sure they’re not forgotten Christmas morning. It’s just his passion."
So that’s where the public comes in. You can drop off coats and toys at any local fire or EMS station.
Simmons said, "Toboggans, gloves, basketballs, footballs, coloring books, crayons, anything simple, if it’s just $5 worth or $50 worth, every little bit helps and that’s what it takes to make it happen."
Then after all of the families sign up, and all the toys are bought… it’s time for the Santa Train. Simmons explained, "We have Santa Claus delivering the toys, and it’s just a big celebration and that’s our way that we know we sealed the deal for the Christmas season."
Simmons was speechless when we surprised him with the big win. He did say, "We’ll put this money to good use. And make it happen."
Simmons knows a thing or two about making things happen. He runs the Forgotten Child Fund… to make sure no child goes without presents on Christmas.
Simmons explained, "We’re out there and see people at their worst. So to be able to give back. And let people know that we do care, that’s what it’s all about."
Fellow Forgotten Child Fund volunteer Clay Ingle said, "We go into these houses, we see the kids that haven’t got anything, through no fault of their own, and a lot of these parents are doing everything they’ve got. They get laid off right before Christmas, or they just don’t have the money to buy toys, and this is a way we can give back to our community."
Helping people isn’t just a profession to these volunteers, it’s a lifestyle.
Simmons said, "We couldn’t do it without the public believing in what we do. None of us here makes a penny here. We come and do it out of the bottom of our hearts."
Ingle added, "Kelly does this 12 months out of the year. This isn’t a three month operation like a lot of people think. I mean, he’s just constantly trying to get more toys, to get more children to make sure they’re not forgotten Christmas morning. It’s just his passion."
So that’s where the public comes in. You can drop off coats and toys at any local fire or EMS station.
Simmons said, "Toboggans, gloves, basketballs, footballs, coloring books, crayons, anything simple, if it’s just $5 worth or $50 worth, every little bit helps and that’s what it takes to make it happen."
Then after all of the families sign up, and all the toys are bought… it’s time for the Santa Train. Simmons explained, "We have Santa Claus delivering the toys, and it’s just a big celebration and that’s our way that we know we sealed the deal for the Christmas season."
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