Local residents and law enforcement help grandparents get Christmas gifts for grandchildren with murdered or imprisoned parents

Heaven Satterfield, left, 4, and her brother, Taylor, 3, hug-up to their favorite glam-mother Amy Smartt Friday outside the Avondale Youth and Family Development Center on Dodson Ave. Heaven Satterfield, left, 4, and her brother, Taylor, 3, hug-up to their favorite glam-mother Amy Smartt Friday outside the Avondale Youth and Family Development Center on Dodson Ave.

By Yolanda Putman December 5, 2015 3 min read

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For more information contact James Moreland at 364-1697Donations are tax deductible.Checks or money orders may be made out to the East Chattanooga Improvement Inc. and marked for “Healing On Both Sides”

Amy Smartt has to provide Christmas for her grandchildren because the children’s mother was murdered and their father was arrested for the crime.

It’s been more than a year since 20-year-old Keiara Patton was shot in the head. Smartt, Patton’s mother, said she still cries daily.

But instead of focusing on her pain, Smartt joined a host of parents and law enforcement officers working to help other grandparents get Christmas gifts for their grandchildren.

“‘Healing on Both Sides’ is just trying to come together to help kids left without a parent,” Smartt said.