by Martha Rose Woodward

Mayor Tim Burchett brought joy to Helen Ashe and Ellen Turner, the twin sisters who founded the Love Kitchen, on Thursday, January 19 when he presented them with 2,500 pounds of food and $2,582 in cash. The gifts came from an event sponsored by the Knox County Parks and Recreation Department as a part of the celebrations at The Holiday Festival of Lights at The Cove at Concord Park during the 2011 Christmas season. Visitors to the festival were encouraged to donate boxed or canned food and many gave cash as well.

The sisters hugged the mayor and repeated, “Thank you, thank you, and tell everyone who had any part in this thank you. Our staff will be able to do so much good  with this generous donation. Thank you, thank you.”

Read more about thsi event in the Knoxville Journal Newspaper.