Empty Stocking donations fund Salvation Army programs year-round in Central Louisiana

Melinda Martinez, Alexandria Town Talk
·2 min read
The Empty Stocking Program is not just for Christmas time, said Major Bill Shafer. Community support is needed year-round but they are kicking off the program during this time of the year.
The Empty Stocking Program is not just for Christmas time, said Major Bill Shafer. Community support is needed year-round but they are kicking off the program during this time of the year.

The Salvation Army in Central Louisiana is looking to the community to donate to the Empty Stocking Program.

The program is not just for Christmas time, said Major Bill Shafer. Community support is needed year-round but they are kicking off the program during this time of the year. Money raised helps not only at Christmas time but is stretched out over the course of the year depending on how much was raised.

"The Empty Stocking will help with not only Angel tree gifts, but it will also help with food for the shelter, the different programs we have, because in the Salvation Army world, we have a veterans program. We have a men's shelter. And, in early 2024 we're opening up our new new Center of Hope. And within the Center of Hope, besides the veterans, we're also going to have a 16-bed women facility, as well as three two-bedroom apartments for families,” said Shafer.

Salvation Army Majors Bill and Brenda Shafer are looking to the community to donate to the Empty Stocking Program.
Salvation Army Majors Bill and Brenda Shafer are looking to the community to donate to the Empty Stocking Program.

Their goal this year is to raise $50,000.

“That's just a kick in the bucket of what it costs to run facilities like the Salvation Army and the programs that we're going to do,” he said.

Last year the Salvation Army had over 7,000 nights of lodging.

“That's actually people in the bed here at our shelter and we served over 15,000 meals,” he said. “And this year we're helping approximately 400 children with our Angel tree program.”

The Salvation Army is spread out throughout Central Louisiana helping in various communities.

"We're in Leesville. We're in Marksville. We're in Ball ,” he said. “We're spread out. That's our area to help.”

People can donate to the Empty Stocking program at any of their Red Kettle locations.

“At each of those Kettle locations, on the Kettle stand, there's the stocking and right below it is the QR code,” said Shafer. “So just like people going out to dinner and pulling up the menu, they can pull up our donation website and they can donate right there from their phone.”

Donations can also be made on their website at give.salvationarmyalm.org

People can also mail donations to the Salvation Army, and P.O. Box 17327, Alexandria, La., 71315.

All the money raised for the program here in Central Louisiana stays in Central Louisiana, said Shafer.

“If people have any questions or anything, they can certainly reach us at our office at (318) 442-0445,” he said.

This article originally appeared on Alexandria Town Talk: Empty Stocking funds year-round Salvation Army programs in Central Louisiana