John Coffelt, Editor

Twenty-Sixth Avenue, the new boutique on the square, along with the newly relocated neighbor Sothern Sass Salon and Keeton Law Firm is holding a Thanksgiving food drive through Nov. 20.

Storeowner Leann Williams, who also owns Southern Sass, said she reached out to local SROs for a list of children in need.

“My biggest concern, with all this going on – I just wanted to make sure these babies were fed,” Williams said. “I wanted to do a menu for Thanksgiving, but I also wanted it to have things for the kids.”

Williams said she hopes to give out over 33 food baskets. Williams found that some families lack the facilities to cook whole hams or turkeys, so she is including canned hams with the other instant and heat and serve thanksgiving dishes.

“I just want to do what we can and I want it to grow every year,” she said. “It’s for the kids. I want these kids to be able to talk about their Thanksgiving and not have to be quiet and think ‘Well, I didn’t get to eat.’”

Veteran hair stylist Williams had several back surgeries, the last one unsuccessful leaving her unable to cut hair. When she found the former Cracked Pot location open, she split the storefront in two and moved Southern Sass into one side and opened 26^th Avenue in the other.

“I decided I didn’t want to go home and retire,” she said.  “We’ve done really well. We really love it.”

Anyone wanting to donate can bring canned hams, instant mashed potatoes, boxed macaroni and cheese, canned corn, fruit, rolls, juice boxes, bags of cookies, brown gravy mix, apple sauce and stove top dressing to Keeton Law Firm, across from City Hall on the Murfreesboro Highway or to 26^th Avenue, 115 W. Main St.

John has been with the Manchester Times since May 2011. John has won Tennessee Press Association awards for Best News Photo and placed in numerous other categories. John is a 1994 graduate of Tullahoma High School, a graduate of Motlow State Community College and earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Middle Tennessee State University. He lives in Tullahoma, enjoys painting, dancing and exploring the outdoors.