Today The Gazette kicks off the annual Empty Stocking Fund. The newspaper’s annual campaign raises money for the Salvation Army to help those in need during this merriest time of year.
The campaign faces the challenge this year of a shortened season and an ambitious goal of $100,000. Because Thanksgiving falls late on the calendar, there are fewer days before the fundraising effort wraps up on Christmas Eve.
But year after year, Gaston County residents rise to the challenge. For the past five years, an outpouring of support from generous donors has hurtled the amount raised past the goal. Last year’s campaign brought in $125,000 — an amazing $25,000 above goal.
This year’s campaign comes with new leadership from Capts. Mark and Lorie Hunter, Gaston County natives who returned from Greenville, S.C., to take over the operation here. Since they arrived, the Hunters and their staff have been busy gearing up for the holiday season, typically the busiest of the year for the Salvation Army.
Work on the annual Christmas Bureau shifted into high gear in September and will continue nonstop until the last food box and toy have been handed out next month.
This year the Salvation Army expects to help 486 families — which Mark Hunter said equates to about 1,151 children. The organization spends an average $50 to $65 per child. They receive everything from toys to warm clothes and, when needed, other necessities such as shoes and socks.
Families seeking help from the Salvation Army must fill out an application and meet with a social worker to be qualified. The goal, Hunter said, is to help as many people as possible.
And some of the needs can be heartbreaking. One family asked for help covering the cost of a special supplement used in a feeding tube for a sick child. That costs about $20 per day for the four daily feedings.
The Salvation Army will help about 16 of these special-need cases. Others have asked for only basics such as diapers and baby wipes.
About 40 seniors will get help through the Silver Bells program. These are people on a fixed income and they have asked for basics such as scarves, blankets, slippers, craft items, crossword puzzles and clothes.
In addition to those seniors, the Salvation Army will provide gifts to 1,800 local nursing home residents. They’ll receive teddy bears to comfort them as well as needed items such as blankets.
The Empty Stocking Fund helps make all this possible. Money raised goes directly to the Christmas assistance program.
Making a contribution is easy. Donations can be:
*Brought to The Gazette, 1893 Remount Road, Gastonia.
*Mailed to The Gazette Empty Stocking Fund, P.O. Box 1538, Gastonia, NC 28053.
For your convenience a contribution form will appear in the newspaper each day and will be available in our lobby.
Each day The Gazette will publish a list of donors. Contributions may be made in honor or in memory of someone and these will appear in the newspaper and online. The campaign total will be updated daily. On Christmas Day we’ll announce the final amount raised.
Kicking off at the same time as the Empty Stocking Fund is the Red Kettle campaign. Some bell ringers reported for duty outside local stores last week. Money tossed in the red kettles also goes to the Christmas relief effort.
And this year the Salvation Army is counting on local students, Boy Scouts and others in the community to help with non-perishable food donations that will fill boxes going to needy families for Christmas.