Empty Stocking Fund receiving a record number of referrals from those seeking help in Athens

Staff Reports
·4 min read

On Dec. 1, the Athens Banner-Herald Empty Stocking Fund at the Athens Area Community Foundation opened to referrals for the 2023 holiday season. The Empty Stocking Fund has been a source for holiday assistance to the Athens area for many years, leveraging local donor contributions to help families who are at risk of eviction pay rent and take care of other necessary expenses, like utilities, medical bills, and car repairs.

Since 2018, the Athens Banner-Herald and the Athens Area Community Foundation have partnered to handle the distribution of funds to help local families in need.

Less than a week into the 2023 campaign, the Empty Stocking Fund has received a record number of referrals from local agencies for families at risk of eviction who need assistance paying for rent, utilities, medical bills, and car repairs. Across the Athens area, the rise in cost-of-living expenses has increased the burden of affordability for many families, a reality reflected in this year’s referrals.

Data from the Athens Wellbeing Project indicates that the average renter in Athens pays $1,126 a month in housing costs alone. As a result, 10% of households report facing the risk of eviction in the last three months, with 76% indicating affordability as the driving cause.

Graphic shows the rising costs of living expenses in the Athens area.
Graphic shows the rising costs of living expenses in the Athens area.

This trend is reflected in the referrals we’ve received from local agencies, such as:

  • A family currently residing in an auxiliary unit without power or water;

  • A young mother putting herself through school who has fallen behind on her utility bills recently;

  • A family whose primary provider is unable to pay their utility bills due to an injury and who is now facing disconnection of services;

  • An older adult on a fixed-income who is currently spending 70% of her monthly income on rent; and,

  • A woman in need of an urgent car repair needed to be able to get to work.

As the Empty Stocking Fund process continues, local nonprofits will aid in connecting individuals in need to assistance through the Empty Stocking Fund, with the goal of alleviating some of the cost burden many are facing this holiday season.

Anyone interested in contributing to the fund may do so online at https://athensareacf.org/empty-stocking-fund/ or via a check sent to the Athens Area Community Foundation at PO Box 1543, Athens, GA 30603.

More: The Empty Stocking Fund: Making a difference in the Athens area this holiday season

Thank you to the donors who have contributed to the Empty Stocking Fund for the 2023 Campaign.

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

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

Anonymous

Mark and Trina von Waldner

Glada Horvat, in honor of the UGA Athletics Compliance Staff

Geneele C. Crenshaw

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

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

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Empty Stocking Fund receiving a record number of referrals from those seeking help in Athens