Making an Impact During the Season of Giving
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V E R T H E C O U R S E of 48 hours, as many as 20 floral donations from weddings, events, memorial services, and grocery stores will be transformed into more than 150 beautiful bouquets. These bouquets will be delivered to individuals in area hospitals, assisted living facilities, hospice care centers, and community health organizations. The swift journey from donation to delivery is achieved due to the efforts of the dedicated, hard-working, and fun-loving Random Acts of Flowers volunteers. The bouquets created by their efforts spread joy not only to the recipients, but also to their families, their healthcare providers, and to the Random Acts of Flowers volunteers, too! There are many ways to get involved with Random Acts of Flowers. Volunteers can pick up floral and vase donations, deconstruct donated floral arrangements, create beautiful bouquets, assist with workshop organization, process donated vases, deliver the re-purposed bouquets, and assist at special events. “The volunteers are the heart of this organization,” said Mick Reed, Executive Director. “Each volunteer plays an important role in enabling us to achieve our mission of improving the emotional health and well-being of individuals in healthcare facilities by
RAF volunteers with completed bouquets!
Donated flowers prepped and ready!
The volunteers are the heart of this organization
Dropping off bouquets to LeConte Medical Center.
delivering re-purposed flowers and a personal moment of kindness. I am very proud of our volunteers and humbled by their positive attitudes and consistent efforts so that those in healthcare facilities can receive a random act of kindness and a smile.” During this season of giving, we hope you find a way to get involved with RAF’s mission – and share with others. Random Acts of Flowers’ volunteers have put in more than
80,000 volunteer hours and have delivered more than 147,000 bouquets in Knoxville, and each delivery is a special, unexpected moment of happiness for the recipient. “As a volunteer at Random Acts of Flowers, I thought I would only be ‘delivering’ kindness, which is a reward in itself, but I have also been the recipient of kindness from the staff and the other volunteers,” said Anetha Grant. “We really care about one another and the mission - what a bonus to spend time with so many smiling volunteers!” If you want to make an impact with Random Acts of Flowers by volunteering or making a donation, call us at 865-633-9082, email us at info@RAFKnoxville.org, or visit www.RAFKnoxville.org.
Christmas at Biltmore and Van Gogh Alive
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EVERYTHING KNOXVILLE
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allowing guests an experience reminiscent of the Vanderbilt’s first Christmas there in 1895. Musicians throughout the house perform seasonal favorites. Setting the scene is a 55-foot Norway spruce sparkling on the front lawn. Two hundred and fifty hand-lit luminaries line the walkway. Arrive early to experience all the estate has to offer, from holiday menus to the Winery to Antler Hill Village and Van Gogh Alive. Holiday packages with overnight accommodations are offered. “Van Gogh Alive” Digital Art Exhibition Part one of a year-long digital art series at Biltmore, Legends of Art & Innovation, aligns with the holiday season with the opening of Van Gogh Alive. Hosted in Biltmore’s event center, Amherst at Deerpark, and running through March 5, 2022, this multi-sensory
Photo courtesy of The Biltmore Company
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URING CHRISTMAS at Biltmore, guests are invited to enjoy the enchantment of the holidays, inspired by the first Christmas at Biltmore House more than 125 years ago. Unique this year is the opportunity to also experience Van Gogh Alive, the first of three multi-sensory digital art exhibitions in a year-long series. Christmas at Biltmore Daytime Celebration through January 9 A daytime visit is a feast for the senses, featuring wreaths, garlands, and the sparkle of ornaments. From Biltmore House, to the Winery and Antler Hill Village (appearances from Santa on weekends until the 23rd), to Van Gogh Alive, guests will want to linger on the estate to experience all that Christmas at Biltmore has to offer. Biltmore House alone includes 62 Christmas trees, more than 14,000 ornaments, 45,000 holiday lights, 250 candles, 1,000 feet of garland, and 175 traditional poinsettias. The estate’s winter gardens and miles of peaceful trails are also available for exploring. Candlelight Christmas Evenings through January 8 Biltmore House glows with candlelight and firelight during the nighttime tour,
Photo courtesy of MAAG
Van Gogh Digital Art Exhibition Enhances Estate’s Holiday Celebration
experience is an immersion into the remarkable life of Vincent van Gogh through light, color, sound, and scent. Highlights include savoring the wonders of Van Gogh’s Starry Night and other masterpieces beamed through up to 40 high-definition projectors with cinema-quality surround sound. Advance timed tickets are required for entry and are included with either the estate’s Audio-Guided Visit Plus or Expert-Guided Plus admission. Visitor Information Biltmore’s health and safety measures will be maintained in all operations while sharing the joy and the magic of the season with guests. For more information about visiting the estate and to purchase admission tickets, please visit www.biltmore.com/christmas.
