Empty Stocking Fund helped Athens residents struggling with bills during the holidays

Graphic showing data provided by the Athens Banner-Herald Empty Stocking Fund.
Graphic showing data provided by the Athens Banner-Herald Empty Stocking Fund.

As of Jan. 8, the Athens Banner-Herald Empty Stocking Fund is officially closed to referrals for the season. The fund, managed by the Athens Area Community Foundation, has granted $66,531.46 through 22 area nonprofits and churches to help hundreds of families in need in the community.

This season, the fund provided assistance to 243 families, including:

  • A young mother who is out of work and needed of assistance to pay her water bill;

  • A family whose main source of income was placed on furlough;

  • A family who needed to pay for car repairs for their daughter’s car before she returns to college;

  • A single father who just earned his GED and is awaiting job placement; and,

  • A family living in an emergency shelter who is trying to afford rent to be able to move into an apartment.

The Empty Stocking Fund has continued to be an important source for holiday assistance to the Athens area through referred assistance to families who are at risk of eviction. Referrals can cover rent, utilities, medical bills, and car payments for families at risk of eviction in the community.

Thank you to all of the donors who contributed to the Empty Stocking Fund campaign. Your donations are instrumental in providing holiday assistance to families in need across the Athens area and we are so thankful for your generosity in giving.

Platinum donors

Grace Adams

Anonymous

JoBeth Allen

Fred and Eileen Hale

Mr. and Mrs. James De Haseth

Jeffrey and Rebecca Engel

Doris Firth

Joe and Lisa Frierson

Ginger Duensing

David and Evelyn Knauft

Barbara and Frank Rice Memorial Fund at the Athens Area Community Foundation

Holt-Kassay Fund at the Athens Area Community Foundation

Richard and Ginny Lynch

Richard H. Warner

Lee Nelson Weeks Charity Fund at the Athens Area Community Foundation

Carol E. Jones

John and Elizabeth Barton

Kent E. Silver, in memory of Ardie and Wilma Silver

Glass Pyles Charitable Fund

Sam and Mary Elliott

The Smith-Tomporowski Family Fund at the Athens Area Community Foundation

Roberta K. Hudson

Jane Payne

Tammy and Bill Kemper

McKesson

Alice and Noah N. Langdale, Jr. Foundation

Janet Booker

Vanessa Cannon

Anonymous, in memory of William Hopper

Glickman Family Foundation

Gold donors

Anonymous

The Al and Kathy Conn Parker Fund at the Athens Area Community Foundation

G. Allard

David and Jean Giannasi

Mary and Larry O’Toole

Wendy Zomlefer

Jeffrey and Rebecca Engel

Bert and Joanna Hill

Mark and Trina von Waldner

Glada Horvat, in honor of the UGA Athletics Compliance Staff

Geneele C. Crenshaw

Michael and Selina Catto

L.B. Ritter

Dominic Fuccile

Nutter and Associates, Inc.

The McQuiston-Stueck Foundation Fund at the Athens Area Community Foundation

Milledge Avenue Baptist Church

Atlas Spine and Balance

Anthony and Charlys Crisafulli

John and Mona Heinze

St. Gregory the Great Episcopal Church

Tony and Betsy Komac

Sylvia Arant

Kevin and Carolyn Clancey

Silver donors

Beverly Logan

Elisa Zarate

Susan Brown

Philip and Linda Koehler

Dennis and Marian Beresford

Rakesh and Sunita Singh

Jan and Mark Wheeler

Anonymous

Ian Russell Hardin

KathyLynne Sanderson

Laurie Hart

Gayle Rogers

Alan Parrish

Jane Marston

Jannette Ockenfels

Rhonda Sorrow

Ed and Sue Wilde

Ladies Auxiliary VFW Mitchell-Fields, Post 2872, Inc.

Dave and Devereux Burch

Jo Ellen Oliver

Mr. and Mrs. William Norred

Ruth Harman, in honor of John Holdridge

Inge Z. Whittle

Margaret Stahl

The Lawrence Family Fund

Deirdre Kane

Tom and Nancy Thomas

FSB

Stephen Olejnik

James and Laura Dowd

Ms. Jan Fosbender

Margarette Fowler

Don and Beverly Abbott

Kent and Rebecca Silver, for Julie McCoy

J. McCoy, to honor him, Pa Rum Babum

Michael and Monika Kapousouz

Donna and Don Davis

Ted and Sandy Deiter

Jessica A. Ostick

Kathleen G. Rohs

Carter and Heidi Naylor

Eleanor Walker

Judge Patricia Barron

Jessica A. Ostick

Kathleen G. Rohs

Carter and Heidi Naylor

Eleanor Walker

Vickie and Jerry Tolbert, given on behalf of the pharmacists and technicians at the Epps Bridge Road Walmart pharmacy department

Pamela J. Snelling

Steve and Diane Horton

Evelyn Boynton

FBK

Sonny and Beth Thurmond

Dennis and Pam Blake

Anonymous, in honor of The Usual Suspects

University of Georgia Golf Course Staff/SBF

Mark Cobb, for Jimmy and Shari Cobb and Family

The Novey Family Fund at the Athens Area Community Foundation

Jim and Shari Cobb and Family

Jerry and Ginny Rogers

Suzette Lay-Heard

Bobby and Linda Snipes

Sylvia Wilson, in memory of Chad Ellett and in honor of Beth Daniel

Mary P. Boswell

Sandra Hunt

Anonymous, in honor of Glada Horvat

Joy and Rick VanHassel

Cristy Sinksen

Sandra Keller

Sara T. Baker

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Poole, in memory of Valmore Pryor Carter

Emily B. Honigberg

W.S. & R.L.S.

Katie Bemisderfer

Huff Grove Baptist Church

James Deeley

Beverly Sams

Paula and Matt Alexander

Julia Holt

Isabelle and Sam Seward

The C. McCullen Family

Thomas Simpson

Mary Atwater

Ann Shumpert

Red donors

Mr. Luten Nunnally

Nicholas Kundin

Patricia Shover

Ms. Roberta J. Carver

Vera Simpson

Catherine Slaughter

Susan Carter, in memory of Chuck Carter

Susan Carter, in memory of Billy and Joyce Chatoney

Ms. Claire Benson

Jennifer Frey

Elizabeth Francisco

Jordan DeWitt

Caitlyn Eley

Anonymous, in memory of John Bleyle

Mr. K. Dan Howington

Randall Edenfield

Rich Niemeier

Team Hunt-Starrs

Anonymous

Jonathan Krell

Sara Williamson

Sara Williamson

Connie Bruce

Mt. Zion Chapter No.207

Jerry Chesness

Ellen Ritchey and Roger Vogel

Shirley Sanders

Nina Lamson

Cynthia Prosser

Charlotte and Larry Lewis

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Empty Stocking Fund helping Athens families with their bills