The Gift of Giving - The Santa Train Scholarship

Food City Donates Over $2,400 to the Scholarship Fund

KINGSPORT, Tenn. – Throughout the 2009 holiday season, area Food City supermarkets once again featured the sale of a special children’s book, entitled The Santa Train Tradition.

Inspired by one of our region’s most anticipated and exciting holiday traditions, the well-crafted children’s book was written by long time Kingsport resident, Leigh Anne W. Hoover and is beautifully illustrated by Carol Bates Murray of Marion, Va.

The popular book made its debut during the 2008 Christmas season in Food City locations along the 110-mile route. In 2009, the book was reprinted with a new green cover and again offered for sale at a retail of $11.99 in area Food City locations. The original red cover is now a limited edition.

The Santa Train Tradition tells the story of seven-year-old Ben Massey and his annual family tradition of walking to meet the Santa Train on the chilly Saturday morning before Thanksgiving.

“Just as the Santa Train gives back to our region, Food City’s generosity has fulfilled my wish by enabling this children’s book to also serve as an instrument of giving,” said Hoover. “It is my hope that the Santa Train Scholarship will continue to benefit, and The Santa Train Tradition will become a treasured holiday keepsake for many families.”

Yesterday, Food City presented a check for the proceeds, which totaled $2,448.81 to representatives of the Kingsport Chamber Foundation to benefit the Santa Train Scholarship.

The check presentation took place at the Kingsport Chamber of Commerce during the monthly Board of Directors meeting.

From left to right: Charlie Floyd, Tom Hembree, Leigh Anne Hoover, Don Royston, Bobby Starnes, Ed Moore and Les McSwain.

The combined two-year total donation to the Santa Train Scholarship from the sale of the book is $9,801.22.

“The Santa Train Tradition is a great children’s book and benefits a wonderful cause. Food City is thrilled to participate in this promotion for a second year,” said Steven C. Smith, Food City President/CEO.

"Once again, Food City has shown that they are a company that is truly committed to the communities they serve," Kingsport Chamber chair and Domtar vice president and mill manager, Charlie Floyd said. "In the past two years, Food City has graciously donated $9,800 to the Santa Train Scholarship to ensure students the opportunity of a higher education. We are very appreciative to our partners, Food City and CSX Transportation for their tremendous support in this effort.”

Each year a high school senior along the 110-mile route of the Santa Train is awarded a $5,000, four year college scholarship.

Originating in 1943, the Santa Train has been winding its way through the mountains of Appalachia for more than 68 years. The tradition started as a way to show appreciation to residents of Southwest Virginia and Eastern Kentucky for shopping in Kingsport.

The Santa Train is an annual project sponsored by CSX Transportation, Food City and the Kingsport Tennessee Area Chamber of Commerce. It delivers more than 15 tons of donated gifts, toys, clothing and candies along the train’s 110-mile route from Shelby, Ky., to Kingsport.

For more information on The Santa Train Tradition visit www.thesantatraintradition.com. Books can still be purchased at the Kingsport Chamber of Commerce.

For more information about the Santa Train, please contact 423-392-8800. Please send all monetary or physical Santa Train donations to the Kingsport Chamber of Commerce, 151 East Main Street, Kingsport, Tenn., 37660.

Headquartered in Abingdon, Food City operates 105 retail food outlets throughout the tri-state region of Southeast Kentucky, Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee.

For participating Food City locations or more information on the company, please visit www.foodcity.com.

The Kingsport Area Chamber of Commerce is a private, non-profit business organization comprised of nearly 1,000 members. The Kingsport Chamber’s mission is to utilize resources and focus efforts on enhancing a strong and viable business environment for the Kingsport area.

For more information on the Kingsport Chamber, go to www.KingsportChamber.org or call (423) 392-8800. We’re social too; follow us on our Facebook page, Your Kingsport Area Chamber of Commerce, and on our Twitter account, @kptchamber.

#####