Roots at Roan Hill fundraiser aims for $50,000

The Roots at Roan Hill fundraiser, intended to purchase household items for the low-income Johnson City residents moving into the new Tapestry at Roan Hill apartments, has raised $12,755 as of Tuesday, said Visit Johnson City Executive Director Brenda Whitson.The residents will move later this year from the John Sevier Center in downtown. Officials with Visit Johnson City and the Johnson City Development Authority say the Tapestry at Roan Hill will offer a better quality of life. The John Sevier Center will then be turned into another kind of development in the next few years.Reaching even $50,000 with the fundraiser would be a tremendous help, Whitson said. The initial goal was $150,000, which would buy $100 worth of household products for all 145 residents, but Whitson said they're trying to do whatever they can.So far, she said they've bought or collected "145 floor lamps, 145 chairs, 100 Ottomans, 236 bath towels, 456 hand towels, 1,020 wash cloths, 145 mattresses and 145 medal bases to put them on."She said they still need 214 more hand towels. They're also still working on buying enough household cleaning products like Swiffers for the residents.If people want to donate items rather than money, Whitson said they should go buy new things to donate rather than giving second-hand or used products, to make sure every Tapestry resident gets the same quality of every item."We want each of them to feel special and important," Whitson said.She said they'll distribute everything to the residents, and anything the residents don't want or need will be donated to another organization helping those less fortunate.The residents' move has been delayed from October to November because management company LHP needed more time to install elevators in the building. Whitson said the delay will give Visit Johnson City more time to hit their goal and make sure they have as much as they can get.Whitson said the idea behind the Roots at Roan Hill fundraiser was "to get them started on the right foot.""We want them to take pride in their apartments, and be able to keep them clean," Whitson said.Those who want to donate to the Roots at Roan Hill initiative can find it online at https://donorbox.org/roots-at-roan-hill. People can also donate money or supplies in person at the Johnson City Visitor Center at 302 Buffalo St.