UPDATED LIST: How to help in fire's wake

Pigeon Forge has opened a distribution center for community members at Boyds Bear/American Bandstand building, 149 Cates Lane,  just before traffic light No. 10.

Currently needed are deodorant, shaving supplies, hair brushes, new socks, new underwear, peanut butter, jelly, Stage 1 baby foods, Stage 3 baby food, breast-feeding supplies, baby formula, baby lotion, diaper rash/cream, diapers size Newborn/1/2/5/6, pull-ups, baby shampoo/wash, flashlights, infant/children's medicine, kids' juice, low-dose aspirin, portable phone chargers, pillows, Depends/adult diapers, Benadryl (adult and children's), school supplies, clear or mesh backpacks, pacifiers, Zyrtec and baby bottles.

If possible, please gather and consolidate shipments at a central location in your area/hometown)and ship in a large truck, as this will help the flow of traffic and shipments. The center have folks there to receive shipments and provide for those folks in need.

Volunteers also are needed.

American Family Care, which recently opened its newest urgent care clinic in Sevierville, and its clinics in Alcoa and Knoxville are currently collecting relief supplies including baby food, diapers, toiletries, socks and coloring books and crayons for children of the displaced families.

Christmas Place in Pigeon Forge is having a new toy drive for children affected by the fire. New toys, Walmart gift cards or cash can be dropped off 9 a.m.-10 p.m. at the Christmas Place, 2470 Parkway, Traffic Light 2A, or shipped to the Christmas Place, Attn: Toy Drive, 646 Wears Valley Road, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863. For information, call 865-453-0415 or visit http://christmasplace.com/toy-drive/.

City employees and local government officials across the state are joining together to assist colleagues who have been impacted by this week’s Sevier County wildfires. A GoFundMe campaign has been created to assist East Tennessee city workers whose homes were severely damaged or destroyed in one of the largest ongoing fires in the Southeast. Click here to make a contribution or to learn more.

The Dollywood Foundation's My People Fund, established by Dolly Parton, will provide $1,000 each month (for up to six months) to Sevier County families whose residences are uninhabitable or were destroyed by wildfires in the Smokies. The fund is open to renters and homeowners. A pre-application for those affected is now available at dollywoodfoundation.org. Completion of the pre-application is not required but is encouraged to expedite the distribution processThe first funds will be distributed 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Dec.15-16 and Dec.19-20 at the CARE MORE Assistance Center at the LeConte Events Center in Pigeon Forge. One check per household per month will be issued. All recipients must show a photo ID.Those needing assistance in the application process should call 800-DOLLYWOOD. Those who would like to make a tax-deductible contribution to the My People Fund should visit dollywoodfoundation.org. Mailed contributions should be sent to: My People Fund, c/o Dollywood Foundation, 111 Dollywood Lane, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863.

The fund already has raised more than $1 million. Significant donors to the fund include Verizon, Tanger Outlets, Miley Cyrus’ Happy Hippie Foundation, CoreCivic and The Blalock Company.

First Tennessee Foundation has announced it will match donations from the public to the local Red Cross, up to a total of $50,000, made through any First Tennessee financial center across the state.

Great Smoky Mountain Church of Christ in Pigeon Forge, partnered with Disaster Relief of Nashville, will begin distributing a trailerful of supplies at 8 a.m. Saturday at the church for those displaced by the wildfires in the Smokies and Gatlinburg. Volunteers will unload the truckload of supplies -- consisting of $85,000 worth of emergency food, water, cleaning supplies, and pallets of additional basic needs -- at 3078 Veterans Blvd. For more info, go to the church's Facebook page here.

Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church, 217 Rankin Road in Alcoa, is collecting bottled water, Gatorade, sports drinks, energy bars, eye drops, towels and washcloths, as well as monetary donations at http://holston.org/wildfires. You can also send checks with "Holston Wildfires #864" on the memo line to Holston Conference UMC WildFires, P.O. Box 850, Alcoa, TN 37701-0850.

J. Scott Graham, photographer and UT-Knoxville alumnus, is aiding the people affected by the fires through donations from the sale of his Great Smoky Mountains National Park 2017 Calendar. "I am donating $5 for every one of my Great Smoky Mountains National Park 2017 Calendars sold during the month of December to a fund set up by the National Park Service and Great Smoky Mountains Association to help victims rebuild their homes." Those wishing to purchase calendars may visit jscottgraham.com or call 423-341-9463.

Mahoney-Barreira Financial Resources, 265 Brookview Centre, Suite 102, is collecting water, sports drinks, eye drops, baby wipes, hand sanitizer and portable snacks like protein bars.

Prestige Cleaners dry cleaning locations are collecting new coloring books; children's toys; men's, women's and children's clothing, jackets, shoes and new undergarments, any size; new towels and washcloths; diapers; toiletries; and unopened pet food and dog/cat treats.

Remote Area Medical, 2200 Stock Creek Boulevard in Rockford, is collecting Gatorade, water, cat/dog food, eye drops, antacids like Rolaids or Tums, and energy and power bars. RAM is also accepting monetary donations at www.ramusa.org. For information, call 865-579-1530.

American Family Care urgent-care facilities at 707 Dolly Parton Parkway in Sevierville, 1015 Hunters Crossing in Alcoa and 9203 Kingston Pike are collecting baby food, formula, diapers and wipes; first-aid supplies; high-calorie, minimally packaged nonperishable foods such as protein bars and candy; personal care items such as soap, shampoo, toothbrushes and toothpaste; shoes of all sizes; coloring books and crayons; gloves, wool socks and scarves.

​Kroger supermarkets in East and Middle Tennessee, northern Alabama and southern Kentucky are partnering with the Red Cross to collect money to provide aid to those affected by the fires. Kroger customers can add any amount they wish to donate to their total purchase at time of checkout. The amount of each tax deductible donation will appear on the customer’s receipt as a contribution to the American Red Cross, and 100 percent of the funds collected will be sent to the American Red Cross, Kroger said.

Wilderness at the Smokies resort, 1424 Old Knoxville Hwy., Sevierville, is serving as both a collection and distribution point for new or gently used clothes, blankets and towels; diapers and wipes; baby formula; personal toiletries; bottled water; and nonperishable snack items. They can be dropped off at the Cades Cove meeting room in Stone Hill Lodge on the resort campus 8 a.m.-11p.m. through at least Friday.

The resort will sort and distribute the items to those who need them 9 a.m.-11 p.m. Wednesday-Friday.

For information, call 865-428-5770.

The Humane Society of the Tennessee Valley said it is no longer collecting pet supplies but has set up a Fire Relief Fund for the Sevier County Humane Society, "because they will have many expenses with cleanup and repairs, plus the costs involved in caring for the animals. Donate online at https://www.youcaring.com/seviercountyhumanesociety-702875.

Stages West boots and apparel store, 2765 Parkway in Pigeon Forge, is collecting baby diapers of all sizes, adult Depends, hand sanitizer, and nonperishable snacks.

The Arnstein Jewish Community Center Preschool, 6800 Deane Hill Drive,  is collecting supplies 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily and planning several drops to the Red Cross.

Needed are cases of water, Gatorade, high calorie snacks, personal hygiene items (lip balm, soap, shampoo, conditioner, sanitary napkins etc.travel size), baby wipes, diapers, wool socks and packages of underwear, in addition to money for buying supplies.

For information, call Kristen Cannon at 865-963-8001 or kcannon@jewishknoxville.org.

The Ice Chalet, 100 Lebanon St. in Bearden, is offering a free public skating pass to those who bring a case of water or Gatorade to the skating rink. The Ice Chalet is accepting blankets and protein bars also.

“We will do this every day until there is no longer a need,” said owner Larry LaBorde.

For information, call 865-588-1858.

Renee Bobbitt Allstate, 6322 Chapman Highway, is collecting water, Gatorade, energy bars, fruit cups, lip balm, wipes, heavy wool socks, and new blankets and stuffed animals to be distributed at shelters. For information, or to arrange to bring items after office hours, call 865-685-4925.

Blount County Sheriff’s Office will open a donation story 11 a.m.-4 p.m. daily through Friday in the parking lot of the Blount County Justice Center, 940 E. Lamar Alexander Parkway in Maryville. Citizens can drop off bottled water, nonperishable food items, blankets, baby items, clothing items, stuffed animals and toys. Sheriff's Office representatives plan to take the truckload of donated items to Gatlinburg Friday evening.

The Knoxville Civic Auditorium and Coliseum, 500 Howard Baker Jr. Ave.,  is collecting cases of water and Gatorade; pre-packaged, nonperishable food items; toiletry items; blankets; and diapers and formula. Extended office hours are through 7 tonight; 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Wednesday, Friday and Saturday; and 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Thursday and Sunday. For information, call 865-215-8900.

Clayton Homes of Kodak is matching all donations of cases of bottled water dropped off at its home center, 3110 Winfield Dunn Parkway (Hwy 66) in Kodak. For information, call 865-933-3333.

West Town Mall, 7600 Kingston Pike, will collect water bottles clothing, toiletries and pet-care items 10 a.m.-9 p.m. daily through Friday at the mall’s front entrance near Forever 21 and the Cheesecake Factory. For information, visit simon.com/westtownmall.

Lucas Auto Sales, 6111 Tazewell Pike, is collecting water, snacks, baby wipes, blankets, pillows, clothes, shoes, toiletries, pet food and lip balm.

Tennessee Valley Coalition for the Homeless is already looking to the future for fire victims.

The nonprofit coalition, which serves 12 counties, has 37 member agencies who are coordinating a "long-term plan," said Jen Patterson, education and fundraising coordinator.

"After the fire clears, there’s going to be a need for sustainable housing," said Patterson, who said the group is currently working with Smoky Mountain Area Rescue Ministries to go into the shelters and provide trauma counseling. "A lot of people will be displaced."

Later, the coalition can put people who have lost their homes into case management and help them find long-term housing.

For information, visit tvchomeless.org. To donate money, call 865-859-0749. For those who have lost their homes, the Homeless Assistance Hot Line is 888-556-0791.

Tennessee Emergency Management Agency said Sevier County residents can indicate their status with the American Red Cross at the organizations Safe and Well website: https://safeandwell.communityos.org/cms/index.php.

Facebook also instituted a Safety Check: https://www.facebook.com/about/safetycheck/.