SINCE 2012, Krys Midgett has made it her mission to ensure that no child goes without the magic of Christmas.
Through her nonprofit, Give A Little Christmas, she and her community of volunteers help families facing emergencies such as illness, job loss, or domestic violence experience the joy of the holiday season.
“This past year was our 13th Christmas,” Midgett said. “We make sure the kids get Christmas gifts from Santa. We meet with the parents ahead of time, give them a big bag full of toys, and then Santa puts them out on Christmas Eve, like he’s supposed to, right?”
Midgett’s work hasn’t gone unnoticed. In January and February, she was honored with the Community Enhancement of the Year Award and the Nonprofit Award of Excellence, both presented by local chambers in Mt. Juliet and Lebanon.
What began with a party for 50 children experiencing homelessness in the community has grown into a massive operation, helping nearly 930 children in 2024 alone.
“We give at least four gifts per child. However, children who have been sponsored tend to receive more,” said Midgett. “So, we like to have as many families sponsored as possible.”
Midgett was inspired while interviewing country music songwriter Glenn Douglas Tubb. She and her friend, Olivia West Hedges, partnered with Tubb and his wife, Dottie, to form Give A Little Christmas.
“He looked just like Santa Claus,” Midgett said. “He said he wanted to throw a party for kids in shelters. So we did. We pulled it off in two weeks with Grand Ole Opry singers and hit songwriters doing Christmas carols. It was magical.”
The program has continued to grow thanks to community support, events, and a dedicated network of volunteers. One of our biggest community partners is Shiloh Music Center. They accept donation drop-offs all year.
One fundraiser is “Cocktails with Santa,” a grown-up spin on the traditional “Breakfast with Santa,” held each December. Other events include murder mystery dinners, craft fairs, and toy drives.
Everything collected goes into what Midgett calls “Santa’s Workshop,” a storage space filled with gifts for children ages 0 to 18. Volunteers like Midgett’s assistant, Jera Peak, help organize toys and manage fundraising logistics year-round.
“Honestly, everything I do benefits the charity in some way,” Midgett said. “I even started a magazine to help promote it. And nobody gets paid — we’re all volunteers. It’s a labor of love.”
Midgett’s family is deeply involved, from her husband, Brian, to her children and grandchildren.
“I honestly couldn’t do this without my family. Jimi, my oldest, will drop everything to help load a truck full of toys. Bronson and Wyatt will stop right in the middle of a basketball game to unload a carload of toys. Tayler and Jay, my daughters-in-law, jump in and help however they can,” said Midgett. “My younger sons, Robby and Tommy, and my husband spent hours writing the murder mystery for our last fundraiser, and they move hundreds of toy bags every Christmas. My mom and sisters are always working behind the scenes to make sure everything comes together. They all pitch in without being asked, by volunteering and making desserts. I’m just so grateful for them.”
One story that stands out for Midgett is one that happened on Christmas Eve when a mother reached out after leaving a dangerous relationship. Her children’s gifts had been left with their father, who, she found out, had sold them.
“Christmas morning, we got up early and loaded toys from our storage so her kids would still wake up to gifts from Santa. That’s what we do. We help Santa out. He appreciates it,” she said.
This year, ‘Give A Little Christmas’ is reviving a pre-COVID-19 tradition: a children’s Christmas party where kids can meet Santa, enjoy cookies and crafts, and parents can pick out clothes and decorations in a separate room.
“It’s all about keeping the magic alive,” Midgett said. “The kids never know they’re getting charity. We’re just here to make sure Santa shows up no matter what.”
The charity is always in need of volunteers, sponsors, and especially toys.
“We need people to attend our events, donate new, unwrapped toys, sponsor families, and help with fundraisers,” Midgett said. “Basically, every event I hold, I ask guests to bring toys!” GN
