Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and First Lady Maria Lee announced that the state’s annual official Christmas events, including Christmas at the Capitol and “The Gift of Giving” tour of the Tennessee Residence, will return this year.
As part of the first lady’s Tennessee Serves initiative, the Lees are inviting guests to bring requested items to the state’s Christmas events in support of five nonprofits organizations including Birth Choice, Mid-South Food Bank, My Friend’s House, Mission of Hope, and Boys & Girls Clubs of Chattanooga, according to a press release by Lee’s office.
The list of requested items can be found at https://www.tn.gov/residence/christmas-at-the-tennessee-residence-2022/give-back-this-holiday-season.html.
“Maria and I look forward to continuing the Tennessee tradition of generosity throughout the holiday season,” Governor Lee said in a statement. “We invite Tennesseans to join us in giving back as we reflect on our many blessings and prepare our hearts to receive the ultimate gift, the birth of Christ.”
.@MariaLeeTN & I look forward to continuing TN traditions throughout the holiday season. We invite Tennesseans to join us in giving back as we reflect on our many blessings and prepare our hearts to receive the ultimate gift, the birth of Christ.https://t.co/j5cQr9XGmi
— Gov. Bill Lee (@GovBillLee) November 21, 2022
This year’s Christmas at the Capitol celebration will begin at 5:30 pm CT on Monday, November 28th. The event is free and open to the public. The event will feature the King’s Academy Children’s Choir, the 129th Army Band, and the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony, with the tree being donated by Joe and Suzie Barry of Nashville.
Guests that attend the Christmas at the Capitol celebration are encouraged to bring donations to specifically benefit the Tennessee Baptist Children’s Home, including men’s shampoo, conditioner and body wash, Lee’s office notes.
In addition, there will be tours of the Tennessee Residence – also known as the Governor’s Mansion – available from Friday, December 2 to Sunday, December 4 and Thursday, December 8 to Sunday, December 11, according to a press release by the First Lady’s office. This year’s Christmas décor theme, “The Gift of Giving,” highlights the many ways Tennesseans give back to others. Reservations are required for all self-guided tours, which are free to the public.
“We are excited to highlight the ways that we can all serve our neighbors throughout the Christmas season as we are reminded that giving of ourselves and our resources not only benefits others but blesses us as well,” First Lady Lee said in a statement. “Bill and I are honored to welcome our fellow Tennesseans to the Residence as we reflect on life’s most meaningful gifts and celebrate the hope we have in Christ, who is the greatest gift of all.”
– – –
Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
Photo “Bill and Maria Lee” by Maria Lee.
Maybe this is something that he can get right.