Knoxville Wholesale Furniture donated $10,000 to the American Gold Star Mothers Volunteer Chapter, according to chapter president Kelly Swanson. The contribution will support the group’s ongoing work with Gold Star Families in East Tennessee.

Gold Star Families are defined as the immediate relatives of U.S. military service members killed in the line of duty. Swanson, who joined the organization while living in Maryland, moved to East Tennessee and became president of the local Volunteer Chapter.

"It's a group you don't want to be a part of," Swanson said. "But the moms really gather around you and support and love on each other."

The Volunteer Chapter partners with the Ben Atchley Tennessee State Veterans' Home in Knox County to provide support and recognition for families of fallen service members. The donation will help fund their activities.

"We are so thankful for that. We can't wait to figure out what to do with it," Swanson said. "We have some plans in the works and it's going to be so good to use it."

The American Gold Star Mothers organization provides peer support and commemorates the service of fallen troops. The Knoxville chapter meets monthly and engages in community outreach to honor deceased service members and assist their families.