How the Empty Stocking Fund benefits those in need in Gaston County
Local residents continue the holiday spirit by helping the Salvation Army provide hope to underprivileged residents in Gaston and Lincoln counties through the Empty Stocking Fund campaign. This annual effort, which takes place in December, helps those who are experiencing hard times, not only during the holiday season but throughout the year.
With your help, families in Gaston County will be able to obtain something for Christmas, while others will find warmth in a shelter during the cold month of December while filling their bellies with hot meals.
"We are very grateful for the generous donors throughout the county that know these funds will be used to continue to feed, clothe and shelter those who are less fortunate, as we have been doing for the last 100 years," said Gastonia’s Salvation Army Major David Phelps. "We realize this is something people don't have to do, so it means a lot for us to see people open their hearts during the holidays.
"Families are facing higher expenses for rent, food, and utilities, and are coming to us for support," said Phelps. “The community's financial support is essential so we can help. Simply put, our capacity to help depends on the generosity of our community."
Money raised during December is not just used for holiday assistance but for the many programs within the Salvation Army such as the Salvation Army’s Boys and Girls Club programming, a place where children can be children, schoolwork is done and life lessons are taught and learned.
“We try to provide a place where the kids are safe, and they can just be kids," said Major Amber Phelps. “This wouldn’t have been possible without the community’s support of The Empty Stocking Fund."
In addition to Christmas assistance to individuals, the Salvation Army provides social programs of rent, clothing, utility, food, shelter, youth programs and emergency disaster services.
Just look at a list of the Empty Stocking Fund donors and you’ll see it’s a cause that unites all of us. By the time the Empty Stocking Fund campaign ends, a host of people will lend their support to the effort – from Sunday school classes, to breakfast groups, to local businesses, to individuals wishing to honor or remember loved ones, the annual campaign brings us together with a common goal: the desire to help others and reach those in need during the season of giving,
The Salvation Army expects to aid more than 675 children, 300 families and 90 seniors through the Empty Stocking Fund, its Angel Tree program and other efforts. The Empty Stocking fundraising goal for The Salvation Army this year is $75,000.
Donations are to be made by check to The Salvation Army with the memo line noted as “Empty Stocking Fund.” Mail contributions should be sent to The Salvation Army, P.O. Box 1094, Gastonia, N.C., 28053 or dropped off at the Salvation Army Center of Hope located at 107 S. Broad St., Gastonia.
The Gazette will provide regular updates on the campaign as it progresses. $16,715 of $75,000 goal has been received by the Empty Stocking Fund to date.
$100 from Clarissa Craig in Memory of Bill Craig
$100 Anonymous
$50 from J. and R. Blanton
$100 in In Memory of Bernice and N.L. Snuggs, from Porter and Libby Snuggs McAteer
$250 from Clyde and Kim Arrowood
$10 Anonymous
$100 from Barry and Wanda Dellinger in honor of our grandkids, Kayley, Holden, Logan, Graham and Jamison
$25 from Nola and Stephen Huffstetler in memory of Lewis and Jenielle Ramsey
$50 from Charlie Killian
$200 from Joyce and Bruce Hartung in Memory of Ralph & Doris Fail
$100 from Dwight Howington in memory of Betty Springfield Howington and Kate Lewis Howington
$100 from Vicki Murphy in memory of David R. Murphy
$50 from Gail White in Memory and in honor of all the ladies who have been in The Study Club since 1911
$100 from Margaret Inez Mills
$2,000 from Paula Weant
$240 in honor of Drs. John Lanz, Ronald Nason, and Brenda Lopez from their work family
$300 from Kenna Watts
$200 from Ted and Ramona Rankin in loving memory of their precious daughter Allison Rankin Clark
$100 from Robert Montgomery in memory of Sonny Montgomery
$100 from Robert Montgomery in memory of Zelma York
$100 Anonymous
$80 in memory of Carol Lewis from Lisa, Linda, Denise and Karen
$50 from Keith and Patti Bollinger in memory of Roger "Pop" Bollinger and Paul and Megan Kelly
$1,000 from Stephan Curran
$100 from Evelyn Accipiter
$500 from Phill and Martha Morgan
$500 from Jim and Anne Carriel in honor of Tim and Mimi Helms, Bill and Price Thrower, Haynes and Laura Murdoch, Phil and Kathy Kotecki, the Clay family, and John and Troy Merritt
$100 from Linda Mullinax in memory of Cindy Mullinax and in honor of her parents
$100 from Howard Neely in memory of Rev James, Mary, and Callie Neely
$25 from the Esther Growth Group of Parkwood Baptist Church in honor of Diane Ward and Pat Cornith
$300 from Jeff and Lynn in Memory of Ray and Dot Jimison, Sandy and Lois Fields, and Sonny and Kevin Fields
$25 from Vera Floyd
$25 from Bobby Floyd
$2000 Anonymous
$500 from Piedmont Adult & Pediatric Medicine Associates in honor of their patients and staff
$500 from Anna Green 161 Flea Market
$100 from Anne Boucher
$100 from Beta Sigma Phi DBA Preceptor
$25 from Myron Slutsky
$25 from Lynn Slutsky
$25 from Nancy Plowden in memory of Ray
$435 from PSNC Energy Retirees in Memory of all deceased PSNC Energy retirees
$500 from Gary and Lois Stewart in memory of our grandson Gary Daniel Stewart and in honor of grandsons Lukas and Gavin Stewart
$500 from Fran and Don Howe
$200 from Clyde and Kimberly Arrowood
$500 from Sandra Schultz
$50 from Bibby's Bridge Club
$200 from Brenda Barker in memory of Bob Barker
$50 from Irene Crickmore in memory of Robert Crickmore
$150 from Mr. and Mrs. James Craig in honor of Lillian, Graham, and Harper
$2,500 from the First Gaston Foundation Fund
$1,000 from the John and Melinda Lowery Foundation Fund in memory of Reverend Jim Lowery, Mrs. Shirley Lowery Eifert, and Mr. and Mrs. BW Beasley, and in honor of Jennifer Lowery Gibson, Johnathan S Lowery, Anna Grace Gibson, Jacob, Jayne and Josie Lowery, In honor of ministers and staff at First Presbyterian Church of Gastonia, and in honor of our many friends and family
This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: How the Empty Stocking Fund benefits those in need in Gaston County
