KINGSPORT — Dignity U Wear, a national not-for-profit organization that provides clothing for children, women and veterans in need, has joined CSX, Food City and the Kingsport Area Chamber of Commerce as an official sponsor of the 70th annual Santa Train.
Since its launch in 2000, Dignity U Wear has provided aid to almost 400,000 people with more than 4 million pieces of clothing. The organization’s mission is to present clothing to those in need at the most needed times, whether it is for a job interview for an adult or the first day of school for a child.
“We are delighted to have the opportunity to work alongside our fellow Santa Train sponsors to provide a wonderful experience to the children of Appalachia,” said Genelle C. Thomas, vice president of external affairs for Dignity U Wear. “We are honored to be part of the Santa Train tradition.”
Dignity U Wear will provide socks, gloves, hats and other winter wear to the children during this year’s Santa Train event, which is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 17.
“The CSX team, along with Food City and the Kingsport Chamber of Commerce, is thrilled to work with Dignity U Wear,” said Tori Kaplan, director of corporate citizenship and special events at CSX. “Dignity U Wear is an organization that does wonderful things for families across the nation, and we are honored to be working with them.”
The mission of Dignity U Wear is to positively impact the lives of children and their families in need throughout the United States by providing new clothing at no cost to the recipients. Dignity U Wear focuses on three main initiatives where new clothing can make a significant impact: school children, veterans and women in crisis. Dignity U Wear partners with the apparel industry to provide the supply of clothing and then works through a network of social service agencies to deliver the clothing based on specified needs. Founded by philanthropist and Holocaust survivor Henri Landwirth in 2000, the organization partners with more than 300 social service agencies and schools in 35 states.
For more information visit www.dignityuwear.org.
The Santa Train is an annual project that provides gifts, clothes and lasting memories to hundreds of children at 14 stops along a 110-mile railroad route between Shelby, Ky., and Kingsport.
Award-winning country music duo Thompson Square is this year’s celebrity guest. It will be Keifer and Shawna Thompson’s second consecutive turn on the train.