Tellico Village Residents Donate Christmas Trees to the Elephant Sanctuary

After the holidays, Christmas trees can lose their charm, but in Tellico Village, they're given new life at The Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tennessee. This year marks the fourth year of a community tradition led by Lynda Parker, who organizes the donation of Christmas trees to the sanctuary. On Thursday, January 9, Lynda and a team of volunteers will begin loading trailers with Christmas trees. The following morning, Friday, January 10, they will embark on a four-hour journey to deliver the trees, with last year's group hauling 130 trees.

"I'm excited to help again, especially since the sanctuary got a new elephant this year named Osh," Parker shared.

Chris and Susan Bogle, who moved to Tellico Village over a year ago, joined the effort last year. It was their first time helping with the tree donation and driving the trees to Hohenwald. "It was a great way to connect with neighbors and work together. Moving 130 trees takes a lot of effort, and it created a strong sense of community," Chris Bogle said.

The initiative was founded by Parker after the loss of her partner, an avid elephant lover. She turned her grief into a meaningful tradition by repurposing Christmas trees to support The Elephant Sanctuary. Located about an hour and a half southwest of Nashville, the sanctuary offers a peaceful haven for elephants retired from zoos and circuses. While the elephants' habitats are not open to the public, the sanctuary provides a safe and loving environment where the animals enjoy eating and playing with Christmas trees.

Details of the donation drive: Thursday, January 9: Volunteers will load trailers with Christmas trees at 1 p.m. Friday, January 10: Volunteers will leave at 7:30 a.m. for the four-hour drive to Hohenwald.

This heartfelt tradition continues to grow, thanks to the support and generosity of the East Tennessee community.

Located in Loudon County, Tennessee, Tellico Village is a premier active adult retirement community. Established in 1987, it has become one of the best retirement communities in the Southeast. Tellico Village sits on 4,800 hundred acres situated on Tellico Lake and is host to a full range of amenities including recreational and wellness facilities, three award-winning golf courses, yacht club, walking and biking trails, boating and water sports, and more. Approximately 10,000 residents call Tellico Village home and the community continues to grow.

Tellico Village offers Discovery Packages allowing potential residents and their families to experience why Tellico Village is continually rated one of the best places to retire in the country.

Located on 3,060 acres in Hohenwald, Tennessee, The Elephant Sanctuary is the nation's largest natural-habitat refuge developed specifically for Asian and African elephants. Founded in 1995, The Sanctuary has provided 34 elephants with individualized care, the companionship of a herd, and the opportunity to live out their lives in a safe haven dedicated to their well-being. The Sanctuary is licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and has been dually recognized through accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries. The Elephant Sanctuary is currently home to 12 elephant residents.

To learn more about The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee, please visit our website at http://www.elephants.com. We welcome you to stay engaged and observe the elephants via our live-streaming EleCams at http://www.elephants.com/elecam, and connect with us via social media.