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Dolly Parton and Walmart Team Up for Hurricane Helene Relief, Donating Millions

Issue #231

05 Oct

In partnership with

In this What’s Up Columbia issue…

🗓 List of Upcoming Events

🌤 Columbia Weather - Partly cloudy with a high of 87

📰 Dolly Parton and Walmart Team Up for Hurricane Helene Relief, Donating Millions

👉 Local Spots To Donate To Hurricane Helene Victims 

🎃 Hidden Bee Farm Pumpkin Patch Open Through October 27th

⛑ Looking For Ways to Help Victims of Hurricane Helene? Click Here

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

📣 We Want To Spotlight Your Business! Apply Here

🗓 Know of Some Local Events Not Listed? Send us the Details!

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Upcoming Local Events

🗓 Have an event to add? Send us the Details!

Saturday, October 5th

Sunday, October 6th

Monday, October 7th

Tuesday, October 8th

Dolly Parton and Walmart Team Up for Hurricane Helene Relief, Donating Millions

On Friday, Dolly Parton announced a $1 million donation to the Mountain Ways Foundation, a nonprofit focused on providing immediate assistance to flood victims. Her East Tennessee businesses, including Dollywood Parks & Resorts and Dolly Parton’s Stampede, along with the Dollywood Foundation, are matching her contribution with an additional $1 million.

The partnership was revealed during an event at the Walmart Supercenter in Newport, TN, where over 250 local residents gathered. Parton expressed her deep connection to the region and shared her commitment to helping the community recover from the disaster. She reflected on the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene in the same region where she grew up, even adding a heartfelt twist to her iconic song "Jolene" during the announcement.

John Furner, President and CEO of Walmart U.S., also announced that Walmart, Sam’s Club, and the Walmart Foundation would be increasing their donation to hurricane relief efforts, bringing their total contribution to $10 million. The partnership reflects both Parton and Walmart’s dedication to supporting the affected communities in their time of need.

The Newport community has pulled together throughout the recovery process, with local Walmart manager Matthew Underwood praising the efforts of both Parton and Furner. He noted their leadership and influence in rallying support during this difficult time, underscoring how impactful their contributions have been.

Only one week ago the region faced another challenge when the Nolichucky Dam was temporarily at risk of catastrophic failure, causing downtown Newport to be evacuated. Thankfully, the situation was later resolved without incident.

Local Spots To Donate To Hurricane Helene Victims

Several businesses, churches and individuals in the area are collecting supplies for the victims of Hurricane Helene. Here are some of the places we found that you can drop off and / or donate to:

Please help if you can! So many families have been affected by Hurricane Helene. We have several organizations traveling east until October 15th.

Donate: Medical supplies, canned goods, hygiene products, wipes, diapers, toilet paper, water, etc. We will not be accepting cash. 

We are accepting donations during normal business hours.

The Horse Tack Consignment Sale happening on Oct. 4-5 will be taking donations for those who have been affected by the floods and for their animals. Donations will be taken by Schuster Show Horses who are organizing a relief effort to haul as much as they can to those in need. Items most needed are things like pet food, horse feed. First aid supplies, water, non-perishable food, shavings, plastic tote boxes and toiletries. “We will take whatever you’d like to donate.”

Location: Baker Building in Maury County Park
Time: Friday and Saturday from 11 AM to 4 PM

Hurricane Relief: We have identified a church out of Knoxville that is offering direct help/support to the city of Newport. We ask you to please use the church's Venmo account (@mauryhills) for donations so we can more easily track. We are collecting until Sunday and then we'll cut a check to the church. They have communicated that funds are most needed right now and will make sure every dollar goes to support victims of the recent flooding.

If you know of other local relief efforts for Helene victims, please let us know here!

Hidden Bee Farm Pumpkin Patch Open Through October 27th

Come join us at Hidden Bee Farm's 3rd annual pumpkin patch, we will be open this year until October 27th - weekly Friday & Saturday 9am-7pm and Sunday 10am-6pm. We will have a variety of food trucks each weekend, a large variety of LOCAL vendors in our gift shop, we have all the fun fall activities and pumpkins galore - the pumpkin patch is FREE ADMISSION!!!!

Come feed and love on our amazing sanctuary animals, we're working hard to meet our fundraising goal for both CC and Peanut Butter be sure to come check them out and give them some grain!

Today from 12 - 3pm you can even see Maury County Firefighters and their truck! You can ask questions, touch the truck and purchase a pumpkin all in one place!

Today at 12:45pm we have a Succulent Pumpkin Workshop. This unique and delightful workshop offers participants the chance to create their own beautiful succulent-adorned pumpkins, setting the perfect tone for the fall season. Advanced ticket purchase is required for the workshop. Find more information here.

Hidden Bee Farm
753 Carters Creek Pike
Columbia, TN 38401
931.674.1790

Friday & Saturday 9am-7pm
Sunday 10am-6pm 

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

Saturday, October 5th

Crossbridges, Amber Falls Winery, 3-7 PM
TBD, Natchez Hills Vineyard, 4-7 PM
Ret Stocstill, Buck & Board, 6-9 PM
Highroad, Hardison Mill Homestead Hall, 7 PM
Cole Ritter Band, Puckett’s, 7:30-9 PM
CJ & The Whiskey Sundown Band, Fozzy's Bar & Grill, 8-11 PM

Sunday, October 6th

Foster Party of 8, Pleasant Heights Baptist Church, 10:30-12 PM
TBD, Natchez Hills Vineyard, 1-4 PM
Martin Lane, Amber Falls Winery, 1-5 PM
Exit 24, The Rebel, 4 PM
Jay Hoppus, Puckett’s, 6-7:30 PM

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