CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (Nov. 18, 2025) — Morning Pointe Assisted Living and Memory Care communities in Chattanooga, Collegedale, Ooltewah, and Hixson are celebrating the Thanksgiving season with a focus on gratitude, connection, and unity. Residents have already enjoyed a warm start to the holidays through festive meals, family gatherings, and the creation of “Thankful Trees” in each community.
Each Thankful Tree features handwritten leaves from residents sharing the people, memories, and moments they are grateful for. Morning Pointe is now inviting neighbors, families, and local organizations to stop by and add their own leaf of thanks — helping the trees grow as a shared expression of community gratitude.
“Volunteers play a huge role in the joy our residents experience this time of year,” said Amanda Yelenick, Vice President of Life Enrichment for Morning Pointe Senior Living. “What’s really special is that many groups visit for the first time around the holidays — choirs, carolers, classrooms doing service projects, scout troops making cards, church groups dropping off donations, pet visitors, musicians, artists, and students earning community-service hours. Once they come, they usually fall in love with the residents and end up returning, either as a group or individually. Those relationships truly brighten the season for everyone.”
Morning Pointe communities see the start of this seasonal spirit each Thanksgiving, and it continues to grow through Christmas and into the New Year.
“This is my favorite time of year at Morning Pointe,” said Leigha Terning, Life Enrichment Director at Morning Pointe of East Hamilton. “From the moment the Thankful Trees go up, our building comes alive. Families feel the warmth when they walk in, and our residents light up when volunteers visit or share their talents. The holiday cheer starts early here, and it’s something our entire community looks forward to every single year.”
Morning Pointe encourages choirs, youth groups, classrooms, musicians, service clubs, church groups, and volunteers of all ages to join in bringing holiday warmth, creativity, and connection to residents.
For more information or to schedule a visit with your group, please contact the Morning Pointe community nearest you:
Morning Pointe of Chattanooga at Shallowford – Assisted Living
7719 Shallowford Rd
Chattanooga, TN 37421
(423) 296-0097
The Lantern at Morning Pointe Alzheimer’s Center of Excellence, Chattanooga – Memory Care
7620 Shallowford Rd
Chattanooga, TN 37421
(423) 551-4190
Morning Pointe of Collegedale at Greenbriar Cove – Assisted Living
9650 Leyland Dr
Collegedale, TN 37363
(423) 396-6999
Morning Pointe of East Hamilton – Assisted Living
1776 Generations Way
Ooltewah, TN 37363
(423) 212-1208
Morning Pointe of Hixson – Assisted Living & Memory Care
5501 Old Hixson Pike
Hixson, TN 37343
(423) 847-1370
To learn more about volunteering at any Morning Pointe community, visit: https://bit.ly/morningpointe-volunteer
About Morning Pointe Senior Living
Founded in 1997 by Greg A. Vital and Franklin Farrow, Morning Pointe Senior Living operates 42 assisted living and Alzheimer’s memory care communities across five southeastern states. In the Tennessee Valley, communities are located in Chattanooga, East Hamilton, Collegedale, Hixson, and Walker County, Georgia.
