Food City will once again sponsor the annual Johnia Berry Toy Drive, now in its 16th year.  Due to COVID-19, this year’s drive will be virtual.

“The pandemic has certainly made 2020 a year of unique challenges, but we feel the toy drive is as important as ever this year,” says Joan Berry.  “The virtual option will allow us to safely continue to supply much-needed toys to area organizations as we’ve done for the last fifteen years.” 

The virtual toy drive will kick-off on November 11th and continue through December 3rd.  Online donations may be securely made at JohniaBerry.org.  Contributions are tax deductible and will be used to purchase and ship toys to needy children across East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia.

“Johnia was extremely passionate about helping children.  Food City is proud to continue our sponsorship with this year’s virtual drive to provide thousands of toys to needy children in our area,” says Steven C. Smith, Food City president and chief executive officer.    

The Berry Family have selected a number of local agencies to receive toys this year, including Tri-State Children’s Home, Safe Passage Women’s Shelter, Community Help Center of Northeast TN, Cumberland Mountain Community Services of Cedar Bluff, VA, ETSU’s Little Bucs, HOPE Center of Greeneville, TN, local schools in Virginia and Tennessee and many others.

“Last year’s toy drive was one of the most successful in our history, thanks to the tremendous generosity of our loyal customers and associates and outstanding support of our media partner, News Channel 11, WJHL-TV.  We would like to encourage everyone to please participate in the virtual toy drive, as the need is greater than ever this year,” says Smith. 

Headquartered in Abingdon, Virginia, K-VA-T Food Stores (Food City’s parent company) operates 134 retail outlets throughout southeast Kentucky, southwest Virginia, east Tennessee, Chattanooga and north Georgia.