The Crazy Quilt Friendship Center is comprised of a Food Pantry & Emergency Assistance program and community summer programs. It serves as a critical resource available for low-income families in the Newcomb area, an Appalachian community near Jellico, Tennessee. Crazy Quilt also provides food boxes, assistance with utilities, a summer day camp, and a Christmas party for area children from low-income families. Crazy Quilt’s annual Christmas party provides 400-600 area children, ages newborn to 15, with a visit from Santa, a new toy, and a treat bag—often the only Christmas gifts these children will receive.
Bill Kunkel, Lewis Thomason’s former CFO, participated in Crazy Quilt’s Christmas Party long before he came to LT. He personally collected gifts and provided them to the children every year he was with LT and before. He was passionate about Crazy Quilt due to his own humble upbringing, and he especially loved the Christmas party. Mark and Teresa Giuliani and Evan and Stephanie Giordano and family participated each year. Bill passed away earlier this year, and in Bill’s honor, we wanted to continue to support Crazy Quilt through our 501c3, Lewis Thomason Charitable Giving. Crazy Quilt told us their needs were $3,000-$3,500 for gifts as they expected 150-200 kids this year and $1,000-$1,500 for food pantry and young mother supplies.
We told our people these needs and during a time of year when many are struggling, Lewis Thomason’s employees collected over $10,000 to donate supplies to the Crazy Quilt Friendship Center. We know Bill Kunkel would be proud of his friends and co-workers have continued his legacy.